Is Springfield or Washington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Washington is safer than Springfield (Safety Score 56/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100,000 versus 5,364 for Springfield — 72% lower. Springfield has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Washington has a 95% lower rate.
Note: Springfield is 10.9x 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
Washington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield, MO
Washington, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Springfield | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,364.0 | 1,496.2 | +3,867.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,179.3 | 254.7 | +924.6 |
| Murder Rate | 5.9 | 6.4 | -0.5 |
| Rape Rate | 104.4 | 44.6 | +59.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 123.7 | 6.4 | +117.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 944.1 | 197.4 | +746.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,184.7 | 1,241.5 | +2,943.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 726.6 | 76.4 | +650.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,001.3 | 1,069.6 | +1,931.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 456.8 | 95.5 | +361.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springfield or Washington safer?
Washington is safer with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100K vs 5,364 for Springfield — a 72% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Springfield has a violent crime rate of 1,179.3 per 100K while Washington has 254.7. Washington 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 Washington, MO
Washington, Missouri, known for its historic German heritage and the Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Pipe Company, is a city in Franklin County along the Missouri River. Its population was estimated at 14,932 in 2022. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 15,707, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,496.2 per 100,000 residents.