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D+

Is Bolivar, Missouri Safe?

Population 11,994 · Safer than 22% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Bolivar is a smaller community of 11,994 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs well below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 249 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,631 per 100K.

Bolivar Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBolivarMissouri AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate204.7333.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2284.92080.71,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate158.0--268.2
Theft Rate1631.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate220.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

249 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

205/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2285/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bolivar

Violent crime in Bolivar is well below the national average. The rate of 204.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2284.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,631 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bolivar Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault158
059% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary394
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,631
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft220
069% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Bolivar Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bolivar
204.7
State
333.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bolivar
2284.9
State
2080.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Bolivar Safety

Is Bolivar safe?
Not especially. Bolivar earns a D+ with a crime rate of 249 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs well below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bolivar?
249 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 204.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2284.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bolivar safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bolivar's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,631 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bolivar?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bolivar generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bolivar police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bolivar?
No. Crime in Bolivar has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Bolivar compare to other cities in Missouri?
Below average for the state. Bolivar ranks behind about 78% of Missouri cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Bolivar to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is well below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Bolivar?
Bad. A D+ grade and 249 per-thousand rate put Bolivar below 78% of US cities. Violent crime at 205 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bolivar?
204.7 per 100,000, which is 44% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (158), robbery (46), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

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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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