Is Liberty or Springfield Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Liberty is safer than Springfield (Safety Score 47/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,775 per 100,000 versus 5,364 for Springfield — 67% lower. Liberty has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Liberty has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Springfield is 5.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Liberty — 3-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Liberty, MO
Springfield, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Liberty | Springfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,775.0 | 5,364.0 | -3,589.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 203.3 | 1,179.3 | -976.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.9 | -5.9 |
| Rape Rate | 38.7 | 104.4 | -65.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 12.9 | 123.7 | -110.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 151.7 | 944.1 | -792.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,571.7 | 4,184.7 | -2,613.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 77.5 | 726.6 | -649.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,320.0 | 3,001.3 | -1,681.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 174.3 | 456.8 | -282.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberty or Springfield safer?
Liberty is safer with a total crime rate of 1,775 per 100K vs 5,364 for Springfield — a 67% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Liberty has a violent crime rate of 203.3 per 100K while Springfield has 1,179.3. Liberty has lower violent crime.
About Liberty, MO
Liberty, a suburb north of Kansas City, is home to William Jewell College, founded in 1849. Its population is around 30,000, situated in Clay County. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 30,986, Liberty has a total crime rate of 1,775.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO, "Queen City of the Ozarks," is a regional hub in southwest Missouri. Home to Bass Pro Shops' first store, it's a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 169,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 170,527, Springfield has a total crime rate of 5,364.0 per 100,000 residents.