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Columbia, TN vs Knoxville, TN Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · Knoxville crime rate

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Is Columbia, TN or Knoxville, TN Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, TN is safer than Knoxville, TN (Safety Score 19/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 3,060 per 100,000 versus 3,462 for Knoxville, TN — 12% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Columbia has a 60% lower rate.

Note: Knoxville is 4.1x 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, TN?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Knoxville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, TN

Columbia, TN
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 49,374
Total Crime Rate 3,060.3
Category Wins 5/7

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 200,457
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia Knoxville Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,060.3 3,461.6 -401.3
Violent Crime Rate 573.2 740.3 -167.1
Murder Rate 12.2 11.0 +1.2
Rape Rate 52.7 64.9 -12.2
Robbery Rate 32.4 81.8 -49.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 476.0 582.7 -106.7
Property Crime Rate 2,487.1 2,721.3 -234.1
Burglary Rate 923.6 328.8 +594.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,403.6 2,013.9 -610.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 160.0 378.6 -218.6

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

Moving from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN?

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 Knoxville safer?

Columbia, TN is safer with a total crime rate of 3,060 per 100K vs 3,462 for Knoxville, TN — a 12% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 573.2 per 100K while Knoxville has 740.3. Columbia has lower violent crime.

About Columbia, TN

Columbia, the "Dimple of the Universe," is a historic Southern city known for its Antebellum architecture and as the birthplace of James K. Polk. Situated on the Duck River in Maury County, it's a growing community of over 40,000 residents. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 49,374, Columbia has a total crime rate of 3,060.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, is a city of just under 200,000 residents. It boasts a rich musical heritage, notably as the birthplace of the Everly Brothers. The Tennessee River flows along its downtown, a reminder of its historical role in trade and industry. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 200,457, Knoxville has a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents.

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