The Best Home Security Systems in Columbia, MD
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Columbia, MD? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Columbia, MD home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Columbia every 3 hours 9 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Columbia experiences 28.77 property crimes per 1000 people and 3.204 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Columbia, MD
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Columbia. The combination of a high amount of renters (32%) and education level (62% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Columbia, MD?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Columbia, MD. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Columbia, MD and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Columbia, MD
Our analysis gives Columbia a property crime grade of: D-. Columbia is in the 85th percentile of safety, meaning 85% of cities in Maryland are safer and 15% are more dangerous. Please visit our Columbia crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the southeastern part of Columbia, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 11. Compare this to the central part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 98.
D
D+ |
|
D- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C+ |
A crime occurs every 2 hours 19 minutes (on average) in Columbia, MD.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Columbia safe? Compared to all of Maryland, Columbia is rated as safe as the average Maryland city, which has a property crime rate of 31.29 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Columbia, with its burglary rate of 2.197 per 1000, is as safe as the average Maryland city.
In addition, Columbia is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Columbia, MD.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Columbia, MD |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
25.43 |
2,447 |
47.0 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.123 |
108 |
2.1 |
Burglary |
2.197 |
211 |
4.1 |
Arson |
0.0191 |
2 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Columbia, MD
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Columbia, MD
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Columbia, MD is 55.90 degrees, reaching 95.43 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 89.94 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Columbia was built in 1984, which is newer than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Maryland build in 1981.
Between average seasonal temperatures and older homes in Columbia, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Columbia, MD
Columbia, MD gets an average rainfall of 1.7" per year. This is higher than the average of 0.9" for Maryland.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Columbia, MD
Columbia, MD reaches an average of 43.60 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 51.04 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Columbia is 39 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Maryland home that's 42 years old and less time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Columbia home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Columbia, MD
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Columbia home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 31.57% (30,462) of people in Columbia, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 68.43% or 66,041 of Columbia residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 77% of people who commute an average of 39 minutes to work in or around Columbia, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 17% of Columbia residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Columbia tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $122,961 annually. In addition, 61.8% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Columbia is $394,903. Compared to the median home value in Maryland of $357,815, your home value will probably be higher. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Columbia, MD
There are 2 police stations within the boundaries of Columbia, and 12 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Columbia center, there are 572 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Columbia may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| State Police Maryland 7155 Columbia Gateway Drive C Columbia, MD 21046 (410) 290-1620 mdsp.org |
State Police Maryland 7777 Washington Boulevard Jessup, MD 20794 (301) 596-5072 mdsp.org |
Maryland state police 7777 Washington Boulevard Jessup, MD 20794 (410) 799-2101 mdsp.org |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Columbia, MD
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbia, MD? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilchester, MD | B+ | B+ | more safe |
| Fulton, MD | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Clarksville, MD | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Savage, MD | C+ | B- | more safe |
| Ellicott City, MD | B | B+ | more safe |
| Jessup, MD | F | F | less safe |
| Scaggsville, MD | C | B- | more safe |
| Elkridge, MD | C+ | C+ | more safe |
| Highland, MD | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Annapolis Junction, MD | F | F | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Columbia, MD
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbia, MD? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucin, UT | F | D- | less safe |
| Longmont, CO | B- | A- | more safe |
| Lubbock, TX | F | F | less safe |
| Land O' Lakes, FL | A- | A | more safe |
| Lafayette, LA | B- | C+ | more safe |
| Lafayette, IN | D+ | C- | more safe |
| Leander, TX | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Lexington, KY | D | D | about as safe |
| Lexington, NC | C | C | more safe |
| Lexington, SC | F | F | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Columbia, MD
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Columbia, MD can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Columbia residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, ADT, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Columbia residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Columbia's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 3 hours 9 minutes in Columbia.
- The city experiences 28.77 property crimes and 3.204 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Columbia's property crime grade stands at an 'D-', comparably as safe as other Maryland {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Columbia. The combination of a high amount of renters (32%) and education level (62% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 95.43 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 43.60 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.7" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 39 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 31.57% of Columbia residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 77% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Columbia's lower household median income of $122,961 and 61.8% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Columbia hosts 2 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.