Is Springfield or St. Joseph Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Joseph is safer than Springfield (Safety Score 5/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,579 per 100,000 versus 5,364 for Springfield — 15% lower. Springfield has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where St. Joseph has a 56% lower rate.
Note: Springfield is 2.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Springfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Joseph — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield, MO
St. Joseph, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Springfield | St. Joseph | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,364.0 | 4,579.5 | +784.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,179.3 | 728.6 | +450.7 |
| Murder Rate | 5.9 | 4.3 | +1.6 |
| Rape Rate | 104.4 | 178.2 | -73.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 123.7 | 54.2 | +69.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 944.1 | 491.9 | +452.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,184.7 | 3,850.9 | +333.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 726.6 | 536.1 | +190.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,001.3 | 2,774.5 | +226.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 456.8 | 540.4 | -83.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springfield or St. Joseph safer?
St. Joseph is safer with a total crime rate of 4,579 per 100K vs 5,364 for Springfield — a 15% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Springfield has a violent crime rate of 1,179.3 per 100K while St. Joseph has 728.6. St. Joseph has lower violent crime.
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.
About St. Joseph, MO
St. Joseph, Missouri, a city on the Missouri River, was the starting point of the Pony Express. This Buchanan County seat is located across from Kansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 70,139, St. Joseph has a total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 residents.