Is Columbus or Van Wert Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Columbus is safer than Van Wert (Safety Score 18/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100,000 versus 3,485 for Van Wert — 11% lower. Columbus has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Van Wert has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 83.1x 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
Van Wert — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus, OH
Van Wert, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Van Wert | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,088.3 | 3,485.2 | -396.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.0 | 236.0 | +199.0 |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 0.0 | +12.2 |
| Rape Rate | 124.2 | 45.4 | +78.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.7 | 0.0 | +87.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 210.7 | 190.6 | +20.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,653.4 | 3,249.2 | -595.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.5 | 335.8 | +68.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,706.1 | 2,859.0 | -1,152.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 542.8 | 54.5 | +488.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Van Wert safer?
Columbus is safer with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100K vs 3,485 for Van Wert — a 11% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100K while Van Wert has 236.0. Van Wert 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 Van Wert, OH
Van Wert, Ohio, "The Peony City," is a rural community in northwestern Ohio with a population of around 11,000. It is the birthplace of noted American author and humorist Ambrose Bierce. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 11,018, Van Wert has a total crime rate of 3,485.2 per 100,000 residents.