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D-

Is Columbus, Ohio Safe?

Population 938,396 · Safer than 11% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate above the national average, Columbus faces real safety challenges. It earns a D- grade and ranks below 89% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 2,021 per 100K.

Columbus Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricColumbusOhio AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate462.0312.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2421.62033.51,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate336.0--268.2
Theft Rate2021.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate551.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

288.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD-

462/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2422/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Columbus

Violent crime in Columbus is above the national average. The rate of 462.0 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2421.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,021 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 336 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Columbus Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault336
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery69
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary378
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,021
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft551
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Columbus Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbus
462.0
State
312.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbus
2421.6
State
2033.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbus Safety

Is Columbus safe?
Not especially. Columbus earns a D- with a crime rate of 288.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Columbus?
288.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 462.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2421.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Columbus safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Columbus's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,021 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Columbus?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Columbus generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Columbus police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Columbus?
No. Crime in Columbus has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Columbus compare to other cities in Ohio?
Below average for the state. Columbus ranks behind about 90% of Ohio cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Columbus to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Columbus?
Bad. A D- grade and 288.4 per-thousand rate put Columbus below 89% of US cities. Violent crime at 462 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Columbus?
462.0 per 100,000, which is 27% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (336), robbery (69), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Ohio

Similar-sized communities in Ohio. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Cleveland363,608 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Cincinnati314,367 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Toledo263,423 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Akron189,691 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Dayton136,688 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Parma78,581 pop · Grade C-
View all Ohio 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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