Is Columbus or Zanesville Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Columbus is safer than Zanesville (Safety Score 18/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100,000 versus 3,174 for Zanesville — 3% lower. Columbus has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Zanesville has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 37.2x 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
Zanesville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus, OH
Zanesville, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbus | Zanesville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,088.3 | 3,173.5 | -85.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.0 | 333.2 | +101.8 |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 0.0 | +12.2 |
| Rape Rate | 124.2 | 81.3 | +42.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.7 | 20.3 | +67.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 210.7 | 231.6 | -20.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,653.4 | 2,840.3 | -187.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.5 | 548.6 | -144.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,706.1 | 2,137.3 | -431.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 542.8 | 154.4 | +388.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Zanesville safer?
Columbus is safer with a total crime rate of 3,088 per 100K vs 3,174 for Zanesville — a 3% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100K while Zanesville has 333.2. Zanesville 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 Zanesville, OH
Zanesville, the "Y-Bridge City" in southeastern Ohio, sits at the confluence of the Muskingum and Licking Rivers. This historically significant city, once Ohio's capital, has a population of around 24,000. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 24,610, Zanesville has a total crime rate of 3,173.5 per 100,000 residents.