In 2025, Columbia police reported 1,163 violent crimes (791 per 100,000 residents), including 21 murders, 101 robberies and 963 aggravated assaults, plus 4,622 property crimes, according to FBI data.
Population covered: 147,021. Violent-crime rate rank: 1 of 3 large South Carolina cities on this site (1 = highest rate). Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, agency SC0400100, January–December 2025.
| City | Violent / 100k | Violent | Murders | Property / 100k | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 791 | 1,163 | 21 | 3,144 | Totals |
| North Charleston | 668 | 860 | 14 | 3,444 | Totals |
| Charleston | 279 | 445 | 10 | 1,606 | Totals |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer agency counts for 2025 (all 12 months reported unless noted), retrieved October 7, 2026. Rates use the population the FBI lists for each police agency.
Columbia's violent-crime rate of 791 per 100,000 people in 2025 was 2.1 times the South Carolina rate (375) and 2.5 times the U.S. rate (320). That works out to one reported violent crime for every 126 residents, or about 22.4 a week.
Among the 362 cities with full-year FBI numbers on CityCrimeMap, Columbia ranks 50th for violent crime, in the higher half, and 29th for murder (21 murders, 14.3 per 100,000).
Aggravated assaults made up 83% of Columbia's violent crimes and robberies 9%, a smaller robbery share than the national 15%.
Property crime ran 3,144 per 100,000, 91% higher than South Carolina overall. Columbia police logged 484 vehicle thefts (329 per 100,000, 114th of 351; South Carolina: 159) and 598 burglaries (407 per 100,000, 74% higher than the state).
The closest city we cover is Charlotte, 81 miles north in North Carolina; its violent-crime rate (559) is 29% lower than Columbia's.
Out-of-state cities near Columbia's size (147,021 residents): Rockford, IL at 900 violent crimes per 100,000 and Pomona, CA at 645.
By the FBI's 2025 numbers, Columbia had 791 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 2.1 times the statewide 375. It is 1st highest of the 3 South Carolina cities on this site; North Charleston is next at 668. A city-wide rate does not tell you about a single block.
Columbia police reported 21 murders for 2025, a rate of 14.3 per 100,000 residents. The South Carolina rate was 6.3 and the national rate 4.1.
484 vehicles were reported stolen in Columbia in 2025, 329 per 100,000 residents. That is 69% higher than the national rate of 195 and ranks 114th of 351 cities on this site.