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Columbia, MO vs Washington, MO Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · Washington crime rate

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Is Columbia, MO or Washington, MO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Washington, MO is safer than Columbia, MO (Safety Score 57/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100,000 versus 2,667 for Columbia, MO — 44% lower. Columbia has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Columbia is 8.3x 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

Washington — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 130,354
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6
Category Wins 0/7

Washington, MO

Safety Score 57/100
Coverage 15,707
Total Crime Rate 1,496.2
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia Washington Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6 1,496.2 +1,170.4
Violent Crime Rate 349.1 254.7 +94.4
Murder Rate 10.0 6.4 +3.6
Rape Rate 38.4 44.6 -6.2
Robbery Rate 39.9 6.4 +33.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 259.3 197.4 +61.9
Property Crime Rate 2,317.5 1,241.5 +1,076.1
Burglary Rate 332.9 76.4 +256.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,605.6 1,069.6 +536.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.0 95.5 +283.5

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

Moving from Columbia, MO to Washington, 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 Washington safer?

Washington, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100K vs 2,667 for Columbia, MO — a 44% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while Washington has 254.7. Washington 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 Washington, MO

Washington, Missouri, known for its historic German heritage and the Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Pipe Company, is a city in Franklin County along the Missouri River. Its population was estimated at 14,932 in 2022. With a safety score of 57/100 and a population coverage of 15,707, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,496.2 per 100,000 residents.

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