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Columbia, SC vs Spartanburg, SC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · Spartanburg crime rate

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Is Columbia, SC or Spartanburg, SC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, SC is safer than Spartanburg, SC (Safety Score 9/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 4,003 per 100,000 versus 6,719 for Spartanburg, SC — 40% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Columbia has a 48% lower rate.

Note: Columbia is 3.7x 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, SC?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Spartanburg — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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

Spartanburg, SC

Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 39,186
Total Crime Rate 6,719.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia Spartanburg Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,002.5 6,719.2 -2,716.7
Violent Crime Rate 769.9 1,490.3 -720.4
Murder Rate 9.7 5.1 +4.6
Rape Rate 61.6 86.8 -25.2
Robbery Rate 108.6 163.3 -54.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 590.1 1,224.9 -634.9
Property Crime Rate 3,232.6 5,228.9 -1,996.3
Burglary Rate 496.7 944.2 -447.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,356.8 3,654.4 -1,297.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.1 630.3 -251.3

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

Moving from Columbia, SC to Spartanburg, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia or Spartanburg safer?

Columbia, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,003 per 100K vs 6,719 for Spartanburg, SC — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 769.9 per 100K while Spartanburg has 1,490.3. 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 Spartanburg, SC

The Spartanburg Police Department serves a city known as Hub City due to its railroad history, located in the Upstate region of South Carolina. The area is home to diverse communities and several higher education institutions. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 39,186, Spartanburg has a total crime rate of 6,719.2 per 100,000 residents.

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