Colleges and Crime-Comparing Homicide and Suicide Rates Among College Towns and Their Counterparts

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate differences in homicide and suicide rates across college town status and determine whether college towns were predisposed to changes in rates over time.

Methods: We analyzed county-level homicide and suicide rates (total and by firearm) across college town status using 2015-2019 CDC death certificate data and data from the American Communities Project.

Results: Population-level homicide rates were similar across college town status, but younger age groups were at increased risk for firearm homicide and total homicide in college towns. College town status was associated with lower population-level firearm suicide rates, but individuals aged less than 18 y were at increased risk for total and firearm suicide. Finally, college towns were not classified as outliers for changes in either firearm homicide or suicide rates over time.

Conclusions: College towns had similar homicide rates and significantly lower firearm suicide rates than other counties; however, individuals aged less than 18 y were at increased risk for both outcomes. The distinctive demographic, social, economic, and cultural features of college towns may contribute to differing risk profiles among certain age groups, thus may also be amenable to focused prevention efforts.

Keywords: College towns; Community violence; Firearm death; Homicide; Suicide.