Is Columbus or Lebanon Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lebanon is safer than Columbus (Safety Score 67/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 1,205 per 100,000 versus 3,088 for Columbus — 61% lower. Columbus has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lebanon has a 90% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 41.6x 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
Lebanon — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus, OH
Lebanon, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Lebanon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,088.3 | 1,205.4 | +1,883.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.0 | 118.3 | +316.7 |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 9.1 | +3.1 |
| Rape Rate | 124.2 | 18.2 | +106.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.7 | 9.1 | +78.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 210.7 | 81.9 | +128.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,653.4 | 1,087.1 | +1,566.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.5 | 59.1 | +345.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,706.1 | 909.7 | +796.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 542.8 | 118.3 | +424.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Lebanon safer?
Lebanon is safer with a total crime rate of 1,205 per 100K vs 3,088 for Columbus — a 61% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100K while Lebanon has 118.3. Lebanon 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 Lebanon, OH
Lebanon, Ohio, the "Red Brick Road to History," is a city of around 20,000 residents in Warren County. It's known for its historic downtown and as the home of the Golden Lamb Inn, Ohio's longest-operating business. With a safety score of 67/100 and a population coverage of 21,985, Lebanon has a total crime rate of 1,205.4 per 100,000 residents.