The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Columbia County, OR: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Columbia County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Columbia County.

 

Columbia County, OR Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

C+

Overall Crime Grade™

B+
C
Other Crime Grade
C+

$20.4 million

Cost of Crime™ for Columbia County, OR

In 2025, crime will cost $971 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Columbia County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Columbia County, OR Safe?

The C+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US county. Columbia County ranks in the 51st percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 51% of counties but less safe than 49%. This analysis applies only to Columbia County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Columbia County is 30.19 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Columbia County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Columbia County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 28 in the north areas to 1 in 44 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Columbia County, OR see the most incidents - about 595 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 1 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Columbia County, OR

The total projected cost of crime in Columbia County for 2025 is $20,423,020. This translates to approximately $376 per resident and $971 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.0% of the median household income in Columbia County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 60.2%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 27.9%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Columbia County Compared to Other Counties?

Columbia County, OR: $376
Multnomah County, OR: $858
Linn County, OR: $337
Oregon: $550
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Columbia County is $376 per year, which is $88 less than the national average and $175 less than Oregon's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Columbia County:
  • In Multnomah County, OR, crime costs $858 per person, which is $482 more than in Columbia County.
  • In Linn County, OR, crime costs $337 per person, which is $39 less than in Columbia County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Columbia County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Columbia County
Cost per Columbia County Resident
Murder
$3.38 million
$62
Rape/Sexual Assault
$2.35 million
$43
Robbery
$1.02 million
$19
Assault
$2.31 million
$43
Kidnapping
$394,826
$7
Vehicle Theft
$2.06 million
$38
Burglary
$1.30 million
$24
Theft
$3.39 million
$62
Arson
$360,887
$7
Vandalism
$3.06 million
$56
Animal Cruelty
$38,437
$1
Drug Crimes
$501,618
$9
Identity Theft
$265,316
$5
Total Cost of Crime
$20,423,020
$376

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Columbia County, OR

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Columbia County totals $34,796,289 ($640 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $55,219,309 ($1,016 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Columbia County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the east part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports 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 Columbia County has 13, have the same problem. Of Columbia County’s 54,348 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

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 Columbia County, OR at ISP Reports.

Columbia County 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 Columbia County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.483
Robbery
0.5952
Rape
0.7122
Murder
0.0330
Total Violent Crime
2.823 (B+)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
12.03
Vehicle Theft
2.452
Burglary
2.632
Arson
0.2750
Total Property Crime
17.39 (C)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1198
Drug Crimes
1.248
Vandalism
7.885
Identity Theft
0.6307
Animal Cruelty
0.0956
Total "Other" Rate
9.979 (C+)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Columbia County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Columbia County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
D
C
D-
F
B-
D-
D+
C+
D-
F
D+
F
C
C
D+
C-
B
D
D-
D+
F
C
C+
D+
D+
C
D
C-
B-
D

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Columbia County is similar versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
C+
C+
C+
B+
A
A
A+
A
A
A
C+
C+
B+
A-
A-
A+
A+
A+
C+
B-
B-
B
A-
A-
D+
C-
C-
F
F
F

Considering only the crime rate, Columbia County is safer than the Oregon state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Columbia County, OR average SchoolGrade of D+, with 31% actual proficiency versus 37% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See Columbia County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 5 hours 20 minutes in Columbia County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Columbia County, OR

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.