Is Columbus or Delaware Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Delaware is safer than Columbus (Safety Score 69/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100,000 versus 3,088 for Columbus — 63% lower. Columbus has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Delaware has a 83% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 19.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Columbus — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Delaware — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus, OH
Delaware, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Delaware | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,088.3 | 1,136.5 | +1,951.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.0 | 146.7 | +288.3 |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 2.2 | +10.1 |
| Rape Rate | 124.2 | 28.0 | +96.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.7 | 15.1 | +72.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 210.7 | 101.4 | +109.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,653.4 | 989.9 | +1,663.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.5 | 73.3 | +331.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,706.1 | 860.5 | +845.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 542.8 | 56.1 | +486.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Delaware safer?
Delaware is safer with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100K vs 3,088 for Columbus — a 63% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100K while Delaware has 146.7. Delaware has lower violent crime.
About Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio, the state capital, sits at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Home to The Ohio State University, it's a diverse city with a growing population of over 900,000 residents. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 915,447, Columbus has a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents.
About Delaware, OH
Delaware, Ohio, a city north of Columbus, is the county seat and home to Ohio Wesleyan University, founded in 1842. Its historic downtown features Victorian architecture. With a safety score of 69/100 and a population coverage of 46,369, Delaware has a total crime rate of 1,136.5 per 100,000 residents.