The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Columbus, OH: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime Grades

Crime Grade's crime map shows the safest places in the Columbus area in green. The most dangerous areas in the Columbus area are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is Columbus, OH Safe?

The D- grade means the rate of crime is much higher than the average US city. Columbus is in the 15th percentile for safety, meaning 85% of cities are safer and 15% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to the Columbus area's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities.

The rate of crime in the Columbus area is 39.34 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in the Columbus area generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of crime in the Columbus area may be as high as 1 in 11 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 37 in the northwest part of the city. See the section on interpreting the crime map, however, because comparing rates for crime or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.

Columbus Total Crime Map

The map below shows a simple count for crime in Columbus, meaning it will closely resemble state population maps.

Crime Crime Grades

By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the central parts of Columbus, OH: about 26,797 per year. The northeast part of the Columbus area has fewer cases of crime with only 4,233 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When looking at the crime map for the Columbus area, remember that the rate of crime per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the central part of the city. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the crime rate map do not always indicate danger for the Columbus area residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which the Columbus area has 1, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which the Columbus area has 5, have the same problem. Of the Columbus area’s 1,977,734 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Columbus, OH at ISP Reports.

Columbus Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Columbus residents in a standard year.

Individual Columbus Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in the Columbus area is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to the Columbus area.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Grandview Heights, OH	C	C-	C-
Upper Arlington, OH	C	C	C-
Bexley, OH	D	D-	D
Valleyview, OH	D-	D-	D-
Minerva Park, OH	B-	C-	C
Whitehall, OH	D	F	D
Worthington, OH	C-	A	D+
Gahanna, OH	B-	A-	C+
Lincoln Village, OH	D	D-	D-
Urbancrest, OH	D	D-	D

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Columbus is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Homestead, FL	D-	C+	C+
Houston, TX	C-	C	C
Hillsboro, OR	B+	D	D
Hollywood, FL	C	C-	C-
Highland, CA	D+	D+	D+
Hattiesburg, MS	D+	D	D
Germantown, MD	B	B+	B+
Georgetown, TX	B-	A-	A-
Grand Prairie, TX	C	C+	C+
Hamilton, OH	F	C	C

Considering only the crime rate, the Columbus area is less safe than the Ohio state average and safer than the national average.

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org is devoted to the most accurate data available. Errors still occur, but on average CrimeGrade maps are the most accurate and detailed crime maps available. Data is available for licensing, and has been used by insurance companies, home security companies, and more. Read more about our USA crime data and licensing here.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 6 minutes in the Columbus area. Want to protect your home?

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.