Athens-Clarke County, GA vs Columbia, SC

Athens-Clarke County is safer with a higher safety score by 8 points. Athens-Clarke County, GA has a safety score of 65/100 while Columbia, SC has 57/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Athens-Clarke County, GA has a violent crime rate of 406.1 per 100,000 residents, while Columbia, SC has 769.9 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Athens-Clarke County, GA has a property crime rate of 2276.4 per 100,000, compared to 3232.6 per 100,000 in Columbia, SC. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Athens-Clarke County is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.