crimebycounty

Missouri Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 115 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

372.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

1555.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

44/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in Missouri

National Context

Missouri Crime Rates Fall Below National Average

Missouri reports an average total crime rate of 1,926.2 per 100,000 residents, which sits significantly lower than the national average of 2,385.5. This data places the state on the safer end of the national spectrum regarding total reported incidents. All 115 counties provided data, offering a complete picture of the state's safety landscape.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Crimes Drive the Majority of Incidents

Property crime dominates the state profile at 1,554.6 per 100,000 residents, though this remains well below the national benchmark of 2,015.7. In contrast, Missouri's violent crime rate of 371.6 slightly exceeds the national average of 369.8. This suggests that while overall crime is lower, residents face a marginally higher risk of violent encounters compared to the U.S. median.

Safest Counties

Rural Missouri Boasts Near-Zero Crime Rates

Gentry and Scotland Counties lead the state with a perfect 0.0 crime rate per 100,000 residents, indicating no reported incidents. Knox County follows closely as the third safest with a total rate of just 106.0 per 100,000. These rural areas offer some of the most secure environments in the entire country.

Crime Hotspots

Navigating High-Activity Jurisdictions and Urban Centers

Cass County reports the state's highest rate at 33,157.5 incidents per 100,000, followed by Christian County at 13,278.1. St. Louis city also remains a primary hotspot with a total crime rate of 8,517.6. These figures reflect concentrated law enforcement activity and higher report volumes in specific urban and suburban pockets.

The Takeaway

A Broad Safety Spectrum for Missouri Residents

Missouri presents a polarized safety landscape where total crime is 19% lower than the national average despite localized spikes. Prospective movers find extreme safety in the northern rural counties, while urban centers require more situational awareness due to higher violent crime rates. Overall, the state remains more secure than the national baseline for property-related offenses.

All Missouri Counties

CountySafety Score
Gentry County98/100
Scotland County98/100
Knox County93/100
Reynolds County92/100
Moniteau County90/100
Mercer County88/100
Putnam County88/100
Cole County83/100
Greene County83/100
Scott County83/100
Caldwell County83/100
Sullivan County82/100
Lewis County80/100
Ralls County80/100
Iron County79/100
St. Clair County79/100
Carroll County78/100
DeKalb County78/100
Linn County74/100
Lafayette County74/100
Oregon County74/100
Shelby County74/100
Wright County73/100
Gasconade County72/100
Hickory County69/100
Atchison County68/100
Maries County68/100
Ozark County64/100
Osage County64/100
Morgan County63/100
Montgomery County63/100
Andrew County62/100
Audrain County62/100
Pulaski County61/100
Shannon County61/100
Howard County60/100
Pike County58/100
Worth County58/100
Douglas County58/100
Holt County56/100
Perry County55/100
Clay County54/100
Monroe County53/100
Livingston County53/100
Clinton County53/100
Chariton County53/100
Daviess County52/100
Dallas County50/100
St. Charles County49/100
Ripley County49/100
Clark County49/100
Benton County48/100
Macon County48/100
Harrison County47/100
Miller County46/100
Grundy County46/100
Carter County45/100
Lincoln County45/100
Ste. Genevieve County43/100
Platte County43/100
Madison County41/100
Webster County40/100
Cooper County40/100
Randolph County40/100
Dent County40/100
Bollinger County40/100
Jackson County39/100
Warren County39/100
Lawrence County37/100
Nodaway County36/100
Stoddard County35/100
Stone County35/100
Washington County35/100
Franklin County33/100
Jefferson County32/100
Texas County30/100
Schuyler County29/100
Camden County29/100
Ray County28/100
Henry County28/100
Cedar County27/100
Johnson County27/100
McDonald County27/100
Polk County27/100
Newton County24/100
Wayne County23/100
Cape Girardeau County22/100
Howell County21/100
Laclede County21/100
Saline County20/100
Pettis County20/100
Barry County19/100
Taney County17/100
Dunklin County17/100
Dade County16/100
Bates County14/100
St. Francois County12/100
Mississippi County11/100
Barton County11/100
St. Louis County10/100
Marion County10/100
Phelps County10/100
Boone County10/100
Vernon County7/100
Callaway County5/100
Butler County5/100
Crawford County5/100
Adair County3/100
Pemiscot County3/100
Jasper County3/100
Buchanan County2/100
New Madrid County1/100
St. Louis city1/100
Christian County0/100
Cass County0/100

Crime rates per 100K population. — = data pending.

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Data Sources

Crime data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) and County Health Rankings. Safety scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Not legal or security advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.

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