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Columbia, MO vs St. Louis City, MO Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · St. Louis City crime rate

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Is Columbia, MO or St. Louis City, MO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, MO is safer than St. Louis City, MO (Safety Score 25/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100,000 versus 7,076 for St. Louis City, MO — 62% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Columbia has a 84% lower rate.

Note: St. Louis City is 2.1x 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 SAFER than Columbia, MO?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

St. Louis City — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, MO

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

St. Louis City, MO

St. Louis City, MO
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 277,294
Total Crime Rate 7,075.9
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia St. Louis City Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6 7,075.9 -4,409.3
Violent Crime Rate 349.1 1,368.9 -1,019.9
Murder Rate 10.0 54.1 -44.1
Rape Rate 38.4 58.1 -19.7
Robbery Rate 39.9 249.6 -209.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 259.3 1,005.4 -746.1
Property Crime Rate 2,317.5 5,706.9 -3,389.4
Burglary Rate 332.9 819.7 -486.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,605.6 3,412.3 -1,806.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.0 1,475.0 -1,096.0

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

Moving from Columbia, MO to St. Louis City, 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. Louis City safer?

Columbia, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100K vs 7,076 for St. Louis City, MO — a 62% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while St. Louis City has 1,368.9. 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. Louis City, MO

St. Louis City, Missouri, a major port on the Mississippi River, is home to the iconic Gateway Arch. With a population exceeding 300,000, it's a vibrant Midwestern hub with a rich German heritage. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 277,294, St. Louis City has a total crime rate of 7,075.9 per 100,000 residents.

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