Columbia, SC Crime Rates: Stats & Map

F

49%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

62%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

46%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Columbia_{/100k people}	South Carolina_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	4,759	n/a (estimate)	3,454	2,800	2,324
Murder	13	n/a	9.4	11.2	6.3
Rape	45	n/a	32.7	38.2	40.0
Robbery	100	n/a	72.6	40.6	66.1
Assault	667	n/a	484.1	401.3	268.2
Violent crime	825	n/a (estimate)	599	491	370
Burglary	495	n/a	359.3	352.7	269.8
Theft	3,011	n/a	2,185.6	1,706.3	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	428	n/a	310.7	249.2	282.7
Property crime	3,934	n/a (estimate)	2,856	2,308	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Columbia, SC

The Columbia crime rates are 48.6% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 825 violent crimes in Columbia (599 per 100,000 people), which is 61.9% higher than the national average and there were a total of 3934 property crimes (2856 per 100,000 residents) which is 46.1% higher than average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Columbia?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Columbia. Based on the results of the surveys (149 responses), 23% of people felt that there was very little crime in Columbia and felt safe walking alone at night. While 77% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Columbia a Safe Place to Live?

Is Columbia a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Columbia has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 49%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 13.04 daily incidents, encompassing 2.26 violent crimes and 10.78 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Columbia as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Columbia Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Columbia has decreased by 26.8%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Columbia, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has decreased by 14.5%, while property crime has decreased by 28.9%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Columbia is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Columbia

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Columbia crime rates. In Columbia, the poverty rate stands at 22.8%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

In areas where housing affordability is an issue, crime can become a significant concern. Some individuals and families may be forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, which can increase stress and potentially contribute to domestic disputes and related crimes. The median home price in Columbia is $186,000, compared to a national average of $184,700.

High rent costs can create economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When a significant portion of one's income is spent on housing, there may be less money available for other essential needs such as food, healthcare and education. Economic stress can contribute to desperation and potentially lead individuals to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Average rent rates in Columbia are $956, compared to a national average of $949 per month.

Columbia crime map

The Columbia crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Columbia as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Columbia crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Columbia crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Columbia crime rates are 49% higher than the national average
Violent crimes in Columbia are 62% higher than the national average
In Columbia you have a 1 in 29 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Columbia is safer than 12% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Columbia has decreased by 30%

Columbia, SC Crime Quiz

Safest Places to Live in and Around Columbia

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Daily Crime In Columbia (per 100,000 people)

The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Columbia on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of South Carolina and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Columbia (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to South Carolina, are 1.23 times more than the state average and 1.49 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Columbia on a daily basis are 1.22 times more than than South Carolina average and 1.62 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Columbia are 1.24 times more than the daily state average and 1.46 times more than the daily national numbers.

How Safe is Columbia (higher is better)

Are people any safer living in Columbia in comparison to other South Carolina communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Columbia safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Columbia being safer than 46% of cities in South Carolina and 12% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking South Carolina cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Columbia. In conclusion, Columbia ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Columbia

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Columbia is 1 in 167

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Columbia is 1 in 36

The chance of being a victim of crime in Columbia is 1 in 29

Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Columbia? In Columbia, you have a 1 in 167 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 36. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Columbia, SC is 1 in 29.

Year Over Year Crime In Columbia (per 100,000 people)

An ideal indicator of whether Columbia is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Columbia has decreased by 18% and the rate of property crime in Columbia has decreased by 32%. The total crime rate in Columbia has decreased by 30% year to year.

Columbia police department

Item	Columbia	South Carolina	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	450	5,812	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	3.4	5.1	3.3

There are a total of 450 Columbia police officers. This results in 3.4 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 32.6% less than the South Carolina average and 5% greater than the National average.

Sex offenders in South Carolina

State	Total offenders	South Carolina_/100K	National_/100K
South Carolina	15,193	377	266

There are a total of 15,193 sex offenders in South Carolina. This yields a total of 377 sex offenders in South Carolina per 100,000 residents which is 42% greater than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Blythewood, SC	3,646	77	362	439
Pine Ridge, SC	2,771	44	706	750
Lake Murray of Richland, SC	6,672	160	751	910
Arcadia Lakes, SC	756	198	932	1,131
Hopkins, SC	2,068	265	1,245	1,509
Springdale CDP, SC	2,355	282	1,325	1,607
Lexington, SC	21,847	241	1,644	1,885
Columbia, SC	134,057	599	2,856	3,454

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Warren, MI	134,188	489	1,658	2,147
Gainesville, FL	133,611	359	2,172	2,531
Coral Springs, FL	133,370	169	1,020	1,188
Cedar Rapids, IA	133,125	320	3,047	3,367
Visalia, CA	133,100	497	2,373	2,870
Columbia, SC	134,057	599	2,856	3,454

Source: The Columbia, SC crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.