Is Columbus or Norwood Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Columbus is safer than Norwood (Safety Score 18/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100,000 versus 3,395 for Norwood — 9% lower. Columbus has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Norwood has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 48.0x 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
Norwood — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus, OH
Norwood, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Norwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,088.3 | 3,395.1 | -306.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.0 | 241.4 | +193.6 |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 0.0 | +12.2 |
| Rape Rate | 124.2 | 5.3 | +119.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.7 | 36.7 | +51.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 210.7 | 199.4 | +11.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,653.4 | 3,153.7 | -500.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.5 | 246.6 | +157.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,706.1 | 2,581.7 | -875.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 542.8 | 325.3 | +217.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Norwood safer?
Columbus is safer with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100K vs 3,395 for Norwood — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100K while Norwood has 241.4. Norwood 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 Norwood, OH
Norwood, Ohio, an enclave city within Cincinnati, was once known as "The Industrial City" due to its manufacturing past, including the former Globe-Wernicke plant. This Hamilton County community is largely residential, with a diverse mix of housing types and a population of over 19,000. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 19,057, Norwood has a total crime rate of 3,395.1 per 100,000 residents.