The Best Home Security Systems in Columbus, MT
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Columbus, MT? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Columbus, MT home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Columbus every 2 days 13 hours, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Columbus experiences 41.41 property crimes per 1000 people and 4.535 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 Columbus, MT
Best Overall
ADT
We believe ADT is the best home security system for residents of Columbus. A higher median income of $80,665 along with an aging population (the median age in Columbus is 45) solidifies ADT as our recommendation.
No Contract Pick
Simplisafe
These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Columbus, MT?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Columbus, MT. 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 Columbus, MT and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Columbus, MT
Our analysis gives Columbus a property crime grade of: D+. Columbus is in the 75th percentile of safety, meaning 75% of cities in Montana are safer and 25% are more dangerous. Please visit our Columbus crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the eastern part of Columbus, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 9. Compare this to the southwestern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 149.
C-
B |
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D+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B |
A crime occurs every 2 days 1 hour (on average) in Columbus, MT.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Columbus safe? Compared to all of Montana, Columbus is rated less safe than the average Montana city, which has a property crime rate of 25.73 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Columbus, with its burglary rate of 2.910 per 1000, is as safe as the average Montana city.
In addition, Columbus is higher than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Columbus, MT.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Columbus, MT |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
37.76 |
129 |
2.5 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.6403 |
2 |
0.0 |
Burglary |
2.910 |
10 |
0.2 |
Arson |
0.0981 |
0 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Columbus, MT
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 Columbus, MT
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Columbus, MT is 41.59 degrees, reaching 90.15 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 86.39 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Columbus was built in 1985, which is newer than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Montana build in 1983.
Between average seasonal temperatures and older homes in Columbus, 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 Columbus, MT
Columbus, MT gets an average rainfall of 0.5" per year. This is higher than the average of 0.4" for Montana.
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 Columbus, MT
Columbus, MT reaches an average of 27.37 degrees in its cold months of December & January. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 29.85 degrees in December.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Columbus is 38 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Montana home that's 40 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 Columbus 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 Columbus, MT
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Columbus 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 18.01% (626) of people in Columbus, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 81.99% or 2,849 of Columbus 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 88% of people who commute an average of 35 minutes to work in or around Columbus, 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 2% of Columbus 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 Columbus tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $80,665 annually. In addition, 24.4% 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 Columbus is $265,989. Compared to the median home value in Montana of $298,413, your home value will probably be lower. 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 Columbus, MT
There are 1 police stations within the boundaries of Columbus, and 1 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Columbus center, there are 30 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Columbus may be about average. When response times are fairly typical, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| County Of Stillwater 400 North 3rd St Columbus, MT 59019 (406) 322-5326 stillwater.mt.gov |
Joliet Police 116 South Main St Joliet, MT 59041 (406) 962-3133 |
City Crimestoppers 215 West 1st St Laurel, MT 59044 (406) 628-8424 cityoflaurel.org |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Columbus, MT
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbus, MT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reed Point, MT | B- | B | more safe |
| Absarokee, MT | D | D+ | about as safe |
| Boyd, MT | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Park City, MT | A+ | A | more safe |
| Joliet, MT | D | D+ | about as safe |
| Rockvale, MT | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Roberts, MT | A | A- | more safe |
| Silesia, MT | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Molt, MT | B+ | A | more safe |
| Edgar, MT | C | B- | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Columbus, MT
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbus, MT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watkins Glen, NY | C | D+ | more safe |
| Carlisle, IN | F | D- | less safe |
| Chatfield, MN | C+ | A- | more safe |
| Climax, NC | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Thompson, CT | B | B- | more safe |
| Flora, IN | C- | C- | more safe |
| Linden, CA | A | A+ | more safe |
| Buffalo Gap, TX | D- | D | less safe |
| Mescalero, NM | B | D | more safe |
| Moreland Hills, OH | A+ | A+ | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Columbus, MT
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Columbus, MT 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 Columbus residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
ADT, Simplisafe, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for Columbus 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 Columbus's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 2 days 13 hours in Columbus.
- The city experiences 41.41 property crimes and 4.535 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Columbus's property crime grade stands at an 'D+', comparably less safe than other Montana {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- ADT: We believe ADT is the best home security system for residents of Columbus. A higher median income of $80,665 along with an aging population (the median age in Columbus is 45) solidifies ADT as our recommendation.
- Simplisafe: These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 90.15 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with December & January temperatures averaging 27.37 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.5" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 38 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 18.01% of Columbus residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 88% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Columbus's lower household median income of $80,665 and 24.4% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Columbus hosts 1 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.