Is Columbia, SC Safe?
Columbia, SC has a Safety Score of 64/100 (C). Violent crime is 23% below the national average. Crime has been trending upward over the past 5 years.
Key Data
| Metric | Columbia | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 281.7 | 363.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1235.9 | 1832.3 |
| Murder Rate | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| 5-Year Trend | +6.0% | |
| Population | 136,632 | |
Columbia, SC has a Safety Score of 64/100 (C). Violent crime is 23% below the national average. Crime has been trending upward over the past 5 years.
The data source behind this answer is the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset. Every figure on the page traces back to that source; the methodology page describes the inputs and the refresh cadence in full detail.
A practical caveat: the headline answer above reflects the most recent the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset vintage; underlying data is often revised for months after first publication, and the right reference for any specific decision is whichever vintage is current at the time of the decision. The as-of date is stamped on every page.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2026.