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C

Is Columbia, Pennsylvania Safe?

Population 10,314 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Columbia is a smaller community of 10,314 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 212.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,370 per 100K.

Columbia Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricColumbiaPennsylvania AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate396.6314.3363.8
Property Crime Rate1732.31983.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate299.0--268.2
Theft Rate1370.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate436.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

212.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

397/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1732/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Columbia

Violent crime in Columbia is close to the national average. The rate of 396.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1732.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,370 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Columbia Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault299
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery64
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary232
086% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,370
098% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft436
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Columbia Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia
396.6
State
314.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia
1732.3
State
1983.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Safety

Is Columbia safe?
Not especially. Columbia earns a C with a crime rate of 212.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Columbia?
212.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 396.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1732.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Columbia safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Columbia has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Columbia?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Columbia generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Columbia police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Columbia?
Crime rates have held steady in Columbia, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Columbia compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Below average for the state. Columbia ranks behind about 64% of Pennsylvania cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Columbia to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Columbia?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Columbia?
396.6 per 100,000, which is 9% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (299), robbery (64), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

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View all Pennsylvania 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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