Columbus vs Pittsburgh Crime Comparison
Is Columbus or Pittsburgh Safer?
Pittsburgh is the safer city, with a total crime rate 5% lower than Columbus based on 2024 FBI data. Columbus has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Columbus has a 59% lower rate.
Columbus, GA
Safety Score
48/100
Population
201,061
Total Crime Rate
2,843.9
Category Wins
4/7
Pittsburgh, PA
Safety Score
50/100
Population
317,177
Total Crime Rate
2,708.6
Category Wins
3/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Pittsburgh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,843.9 | 2,708.6 | +135.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 608.3 | 428.5 | +179.8 |
| Murder Rate | 12.9 | 11.4 | +1.6 |
| Rape Rate | 25.4 | 51.7 | -26.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 50.7 | 124.2 | -73.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 514.8 | 239.9 | +274.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,235.6 | 2,280.1 | -44.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 353.6 | 232.7 | +120.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,635.8 | 1,704.4 | -68.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 246.2 | 343.0 | -96.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Pittsburgh safer?
Pittsburgh is safer with a total crime rate of 2,709 per 100K vs 2,844 for Columbus — a 5% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 608.3 per 100K while Pittsburgh has 428.5. Pittsburgh has lower violent crime.