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Columbia, MO vs Phoenix, AZ Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Columbia crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

Moving from Columbia, MO to Phoenix, AZ?

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Is Columbia, MO or Phoenix, AZ Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, MO is safer than Phoenix, AZ (Safety Score 25/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100,000 versus 3,125 for Phoenix, AZ — 15% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Columbia has a 78% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 12.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Columbia, MO?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 130,354
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6
Category Wins 4/7

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6 3,125.4 -458.8
Violent Crime Rate 349.1 800.0 -451.0
Murder Rate 10.0 8.4 +1.6
Rape Rate 38.4 64.3 -25.9
Robbery Rate 39.9 181.6 -141.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 259.3 545.3 -286.1
Property Crime Rate 2,317.5 2,325.3 -7.8
Burglary Rate 332.9 317.2 +15.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,605.6 1,582.1 +23.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.0 426.0 -47.1

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Columbia, MO to Phoenix, AZ?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia or Phoenix safer?

Columbia, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100K vs 3,125 for Phoenix, AZ — a 15% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Columbia has lower violent crime.

About Columbia, MO

Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, is a vibrant college town in central Missouri's Boone County. Its "District" area features historic buildings and local businesses, reflecting its growth as a regional hub. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 130,354, Columbia has a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents.

About Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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