Columbia, SC Crime Rate 2023: 281.7 per 100,000
Population 137K · 2023 FBI UCR Data · Safety Grade C
Columbia, SC has a violent crime rate of 281.7 per 100,000 residents, which is 23% below the national average of 363.8. The property crime rate is 1,236 per 100,000, 33% below the national average. Over the past 5 years, crime in Columbia has increased by 6.0%.Columbia receives a Safety Context Score of C (64/100) based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Reading this data in context: Columbia's violent crime rate of 281.7 per 100,000 residents is 23% below the national average. Over the past 5 years, the overall crime rate has increased (+6.0%). Crime data reflects reported incidents and does not capture the full picture of neighborhood safety. All crime statistics are compiled from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which aggregates data reported by local law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Crime Rate Breakdown (per 100K residents)
All rates per 100,000 residents. National average shown for comparison.
Columbia, SC Crime Types Explained
Below is the per-capita breakdown of each FBI-tracked offense in Columbia, 2023. Every figure is per 100,000 residents — never a raw count — and includes the national average for comparison.
Robbery in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 45.1 robbery incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 38% below the national robbery rate of 73 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines robbery as taking property by force or threat of force. See how Columbia ranks nationally for robbery.
Aggravated Assault in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 157.8 aggravated assault incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 36% below the national aggravated assault rate of 246.4 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines aggravated assault as unlawful attack with intent to inflict severe bodily injury, usually involving a weapon. See how Columbia ranks nationally for aggravated assault.
Murder in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 5.6 murder incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 2% below the national murder rate of 5.7 per 100,000 — near the national average. The FBI defines murder as intentional homicide, the most serious violent crime category. See how Columbia ranks nationally for murder.
Burglary in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 160.7 burglary incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 40% below the national burglary rate of 269.8 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines burglary as unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. See how Columbia ranks nationally for burglary.
Larceny-Theft in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 815.7 larceny-theft incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 42% below the national larceny-theft rate of 1,402 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking of property without force, threat, or fraud — the most common property crime. See how Columbia ranks nationally for larceny-theft.
Motor Vehicle Theft in Columbia, SC
Columbia reported 111.2 motor vehicle theft incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 65% below the national motor vehicle theft rate of 318.3 per 100,000 — well below the national average. The FBI defines motor vehicle theft as theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. See how Columbia ranks nationally for motor vehicle theft.
5-Year Crime Rate Trend
Per-capita rates per 100,000 residents
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia has a Safety Context Score of C (64/100). The violent crime rate is 281.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 363.8. Over the past 5 years, overall crime has increased (+6.0%).
Columbia's violent crime rate is 281.7 per 100,000 residents and property crime rate is 1,236 per 100,000. These are per-capita rates based on FBI UCR data, which provide a more accurate comparison than raw crime counts.
Columbia's 5-year crime trend shows a +6.0% change. Crime rates have been increasing, though trends can shift year to year. Always look at long-term trends rather than single-year changes.
Columbia's violent crime rate of 281.7 per 100K is below the national average of 363.8. The property crime rate of 1,236 per 100K is below the national average of 1,832.
Based on 2023 FBI data, Columbia earns a Safety Context Score of C (64/100). Columbia's crime rates are near the national average. The 5-year trend is worsening, which is an important factor for anyone considering relocation. Crime statistics represent city-wide averages and vary significantly by neighborhood.
The most common crime type in Columbia is larceny-theft at 815.7 per 100,000 residents. Overall, property crime (1,236/100K) is significantly more common than violent crime (281.7/100K), which is typical for most US cities. Motor vehicle theft is 111.2/100K below the national average of 318.3.
Explore More
All crime rates are per 100,000 residents. Safety Context Scores are calculated using per-capita violent crime (40%), per-capita property crime (30%), and 5-year trend direction (30%), all compared to national averages.
For this entity, the underlying data on this page comes from the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset. The breakdown above is the federal record; the paragraphs below add the per-entity context that makes the headline numbers usable for a real decision rather than just a data lookup.
Every number on this page links back to the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset; the methodology page describes the inputs, refresh cadence, and known limitations of the underlying data product.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. cities and counties with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.