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D

Is Columbia, South Carolina Safe?

Population 147,035 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Columbia runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 82% of US cities, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,527 per 100K.

Columbia Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricColumbiaSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate362.7339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2248.32029.81,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate290.0--268.2
Theft Rate1527.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate303.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

261.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

363/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2248/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Columbia

Violent crime in Columbia is close to the national average. The rate of 362.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2248.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,527 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Columbia Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault290
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery85
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary434
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,527
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft303
095% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Columbia Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia
362.7
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Columbia
2248.3
State
2029.8
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 D with a crime rate of 261.1 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?
261.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 362.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2248.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Columbia safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Columbia's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,527 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
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?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Columbia's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Columbia compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Columbia ranks behind about 88% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Columbia to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Columbia?
Bad. A D grade and 261.1 per-thousand rate put Columbia below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 363 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Columbia?
362.7 per 100,000, which is 0% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (290), robbery (85), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in South Carolina

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

C-
See crime rates in Charleston159,423 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in North Charleston129,245 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Mount Pleasant95,469 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Rock Hill75,911 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Greenville75,310 pop · Grade D-
D-
See crime rates in Summerville53,177 pop · Grade D-
View all South Carolina 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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