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Columbia, MO vs St. Joseph, MO Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · St. Joseph crime rate

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Is Columbia, MO or St. Joseph, MO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, MO is safer than St. Joseph, MO (Safety Score 25/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100,000 versus 4,579 for St. Joseph, MO — 42% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where St. Joseph has a 57% lower rate.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Columbia, MO?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

St. Joseph — 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 6/7

St. Joseph, MO

St. Joseph, MO
Safety Score 5/100
Coverage 70,139
Total Crime Rate 4,579.5
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia St. Joseph Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6 4,579.5 -1,912.9
Violent Crime Rate 349.1 728.6 -379.5
Murder Rate 10.0 4.3 +5.7
Rape Rate 38.4 178.2 -139.9
Robbery Rate 39.9 54.2 -14.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 259.3 491.9 -232.6
Property Crime Rate 2,317.5 3,850.9 -1,533.4
Burglary Rate 332.9 536.1 -203.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,605.6 2,774.5 -1,168.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.0 540.4 -161.4

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

Moving from Columbia, MO to St. Joseph, MO?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia or St. Joseph safer?

Columbia, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100K vs 4,579 for St. Joseph, MO — a 42% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while St. Joseph has 728.6. 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 St. Joseph, MO

St. Joseph, Missouri, a city on the Missouri River, was the starting point of the Pony Express. This Buchanan County seat is located across from Kansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 70,139, St. Joseph has a total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 residents.

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