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C

Is Columbia Heights, Minnesota Safe?

Population 22,482 · Safer than 33% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 22,482, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Columbia Heights earns a C with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,169 per 100K.

Columbia Heights Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricColumbia HeightsMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate278.3323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1908.62036.71,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate161.0--268.2
Theft Rate1169.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate403.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

218.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

278/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1909/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Columbia Heights

Violent crime in Columbia Heights is below the national average. The rate of 278.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1908.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,169 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Columbia Heights Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault161
060% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery32
051% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary233
086% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,169
083% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft403
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Columbia Heights Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia Heights
278.3
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia Heights
1908.6
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Heights Safety

Is Columbia Heights safe?
Not especially. Columbia Heights earns a C with a crime rate of 218.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Columbia Heights?
218.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 278.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1908.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Columbia Heights safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Columbia Heights's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,169 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Columbia Heights?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Columbia Heights generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Columbia Heights police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Columbia Heights?
Crime rates have held steady in Columbia Heights, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Columbia Heights compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Columbia Heights ranks behind about 71% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Columbia Heights to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Columbia Heights?
Bad. A C grade and 218.7 per-thousand rate put Columbia Heights below 67% of US cities. Violent crime at 278 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Columbia Heights?
278.3 per 100,000, which is 24% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (161), robbery (32), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Minnesota city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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