Property Crime in Ohio

Ohio gained more than 260,000 new residents between the 2010 and 2020 Census reports, which equates to a rate of just over two percent. While that’s one of the slowest rates of any state, according to Census data, it does reflect a rate increase from Ohio’s growth in the 2010 Census.

Ohio’s growth and position as one of the 10 biggest U.S. states means that it should continue to be an attractive spot for those looking to relocate. Whether they’re moving to an Ohio community from outside the state or from another locale in the Buckeye State, ensuring they can protect their investment is of the utmost importance.

That’s why it’s necessary to understand how common property crime is. While violent crime understandably gets the publicity, property crime is far more likely to affect the average person.

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At A Glance:

    • With #1 being the best, Ohio is ranked #24 for property crime out of 50 states + Washington, D.C.
    • You have a 2.06% chance of being a property crime victim in Ohio in the next 12 months.
    • Ohio’s property crime rate is 3% lower than the average crime rate in the United States.
    • Fairfax has the highest property crime rate in Ohio (209.4 incidents per 1,000 people).

 

  • Fairfax is a village in suburban Cincinnati that encompasses less than one square mile and boasts just over 1,700 residents. A low population combined with a high number of commercial establishments that draw outside visitors are likely the reasons for the community’s high rate.

 

Ohio’s average property crime rate in 2019 was just below the national average, though the state has a higher-than-average rate among all Midwestern states. The region has an average property crime rate of 19.6 incidents per 1,000 people.

Ohio’s Most Current Property Crime Rates (2019)

  • Rate of Property Crime
    • Ohio average:: 20.6 crimes per 1,000 people
    • National average: 21.1 crimes per 1,000 people

Like almost every other state, Ohio has seen property crime rates decline over the past 10 years. Ohio’s drop (37 percent) is considerably higher than the average decline of 27 percent, ranking the state ninth when it comes to the rate of property crime decline.

Ohio’s Overall Property Crime Trends (2010 – 2019)

    • Average Rate of Property Crime:
      • Ohio 10-year average: 27.33 crimes per 1,000 people
      • National 10-year average: 25.61 crimes per 1,000 people
    • -37% Has property crime increased or decreased during this time?
      • There was a 37% decrease in property crime in Ohio from 2010 as compared to 2019.
    • 2011 Which year had the highest rate of property crime in Ohio?:
      • The highest rate of property crime in Ohio was 2011 (33 crimes per 1,000 people)
    • 2019 Which year had the lowest rate of property crime in Ohio?:
      • The lowest rate of property crime in Ohio was 2019 (20.6 crimes per 1,000 people)

What incidents fall under the umbrella of property crime? Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson are the four major property crime categories reported by the FBI. In every case, if the incident involves violence or threats of violence, it no longer is a property crime and is classified as a violent crime.

Ohio’s Property Crime Category Trends (2010 – 2019)

      • Which type of property crime occurred the most in Ohio over the past decade?
        • Larceny occurred more than any other property crime at a rate of 18.9 crimes per 1,000 people.
        • Average property crime rate by category
          • Average burglary rate: 6.8 crimes per 1,000 people
          • Average larceny rate: 18.9 crimes per 1,000 people
          • Average vehicle crime rate: 1.7 crimes per 1,000 people
          • Average arson rate: 0.3 crimes per 1,000 people
        • Note: There were no FBI estimates for arson rates, so we used all available data that was reported by individual cities in Ohio.
      • +13% Which types of property crime have increased during this time period?
        • All four types of property crime have declined, but the slowest rate of decrease was in vehicle theft, which fell by 13%.
      • -73% Which types of property crime have decreased during this time period?
        • Arson fell the most, dropping 73%.

 

Among the many factors that contribute to crime, many researchers have linked poverty, unemployment, and urbanization to property crime. Where does Ohio, a state with a rate only slightly lower than the U.S. property crime rate, stack up on those scores? In short, it’s about average:

 

  • Poverty: Just over 13 percent of Ohio’s residents live below the poverty line; the national rate is just over 12 percent.
  • Unemployment: About five percent of Ohio adults were unemployed in May 2021, a half-point below the U.S. rate.
  • Urbanization: Seventy-eight percent of Ohio residents live in urban areas, nearly identical to the U.S. rate of 81 percent.

 

Given that crime is such an intensely local issue, it’s worth exploring the geographic differences in Ohio. The Cincinnati suburb of Fairfax has by far the highest population-adjusted property crime rate, while the lowest rate (among cities that reported at least one property crime) is in South Russell, which is in the Cleveland area. South Russell’s rate is just over one incident per 1,000 people.

Top 5: Best Property Crime Rates (based on 2019 data)*:

  • South Russell, Ohio (Geauga County)
  • Lexington, Ohio (Richland County)
  • Hinckley Township, Ohio (Medina County)
  • Burton, Ohio (Geauga County)
  • Chester Township, Ohio (Geauga County)

Bottom 5: Worst Property Crime Rates (based on 2019 data):

  • Fairfax, Ohio (Hamilton County)
  • New Boston, Ohio (Scioto County)
  • Moraine, Ohio (Montgomery County)
  • Chillicothe, Ohio (Ross County)
  • Gallipolis, Ohio (Gallia County)

* Excludes cities with zero property crime reported