Share

Columbia, SC vs North Charleston, SC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · North Charleston crime rate

Moving from Columbia, SC to North Charleston, SC?

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.

Get the planner →

Is Columbia, SC or North Charleston, SC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, SC is safer than North Charleston, SC (Safety Score 9/100 vs 4/100), with a total crime rate of 4,003 per 100,000 versus 4,767 for North Charleston, SC — 16% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Columbia has a 43% lower rate.

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

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

North Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC
Safety Score 9/100
Coverage 144,559
Total Crime Rate 4,002.5
Category Wins 6/7

North Charleston, SC

North Charleston, SC
Safety Score 4/100
Coverage 123,511
Total Crime Rate 4,767.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia North Charleston Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,002.5 4,767.2 -764.7
Violent Crime Rate 769.9 811.3 -41.3
Murder Rate 9.7 17.0 -7.3
Rape Rate 61.6 60.7 +0.9
Robbery Rate 108.6 153.0 -44.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 590.1 579.7 +10.4
Property Crime Rate 3,232.6 3,955.9 -723.3
Burglary Rate 496.7 323.9 +172.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,356.8 3,105.8 -749.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.1 526.3 -147.2

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

Moving from Columbia, SC to North Charleston, SC?

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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia or North Charleston safer?

Columbia, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,003 per 100K vs 4,767 for North Charleston, SC — a 16% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 769.9 per 100K while North Charleston has 811.3. Columbia has lower violent crime.

About Columbia, SC

Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital, sits at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers, forming the Congaree. Home to the University of South Carolina, it's a vibrant city with a significant student population. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 144,559, Columbia has a total crime rate of 4,002.5 per 100,000 residents.

About North Charleston, SC

North Charleston, a city with a rich naval history, lies in the heart of the Lowcountry. It's home to a diverse population exceeding 115,000 residents, spanning both Charleston and Dorchester counties. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 123,511, North Charleston has a total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons