The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in Ohio

From bustling big cities to the slower-paced areas of Amish Country, one is sure to find his or her absolute living preference in Ohio. However, for all of its positive qualities, crime is something to consider when choosing a place to live in Ohio. Compared to other states, Ohio comes right in the middle of the pack. Its property crime rate was the 29th highest and its violent crime rate was the 31st-highest out of the 50 states.

In the early 1990s, crime rates in places like Olmsted Township and Avon Lake were very low, especially compared with the current rates in Cleveland and East Cleveland, which were above both the state and national averages. These differences show how different economies, societies and geographical areas influence the safety of the Buckeye State.

Ohio’s High-Crime Hubs: Where Trouble Persists

With an astounding 1,703 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2023, Cleveland had the highest rate of violent crime in Ohio. With 1,603 occurrences per 100,000 residents, East Cleveland trailed closely behind while Springfield had 1,253.

These cities share a history of industrial decline, economic hardship and enduring poverty, all of which are linked to high rates of violent crime. Decades of underfunding and deteriorating infrastructure, for instance, have led to high unemployment rates and few youth programs in East Cleveland, which experts claim are directly related to high rates of violent crime. The primary cause of these elevated figures was aggravated assault, which is the most prevalent violent crime in Ohio.

Cities Leading the Way in Crime Prevention

The safest areas in Ohio are found in semi-rural and suburban areas. In 2023, Avon Lake recorded just eight violent crimes per 100,000 residents compared to just seven in Olmsted Township and Genoa Township.

Such low incidences of crime can probably be attributed to good local policing, better household income and good community cohesion. People’s activity and the fact that many of these places are located in small towns seem to contribute decisively to their safety.

With just 15 property crime incidents per 100,000 residents, Kirtland had the lowest number of property crime incidents in the state. Sagamore Hills (65) and Monroeville (78) came in at second third. These communities usually have relatively stable populations and less transient activity, which makes them less vulnerable to auto break-ins, burglary or thefts.

Unexpectedly, smaller communities were at the top of the list for property crime. In Holland, there were a staggering 20,279 property crimes for every 100,000 residents and Fairfax had 16,647. There were 7,968 property crimes per 100,000 people in Moraine, which completed the top three.

Holland and Fairfax may have seen incredibly high numbers because of their small populations and business concentration. Areas with more commercial activity, in relation to the number of full-time residents, tend to have higher rates of theft and burglary. Experts suggest that commercial centers tend to attract more nonresidents, creating more opportunities for shoplifting, burglary and car break-ins, particularly in the absence of around-the-clock security.

Big Picture Crime Trends Across Ohio

Overall, Ohio had 287 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2023, which is 21% less than the national average. Better yet, that figure shows a drop of two percentage points from the year before.

Approximately 30% fewer aggravated assaults occurred per 100,000 residents than the national average, however, it was still the most prevalent violent crime in the state.¹ Rape is still a problem in Ohio, which had a rape rate of 47 per 100,000 people. This happens to be 23.7% higher than the national average. This is indicative of possible difficulties in reporting and preventing sexual violence.

Ohio did pretty well in terms of property crime. According to the state, there were 1,693 property crimes for every 100,000 people. This is 12% less than the national average and has decreased by 5.1% year over year.

The most common property crime with 1,189.6 incidents per 100,000 residents was larceny-theft. The rates of car theft (269.4) and burglary (233.5) were also significantly lower than those nationwide, which contributed to the general upward trend in property crime trends.

Another thing to keep in mind is the advancements we have made as a society with home surveillance. These advancements, along with an increase in community alert apps like Nextdoor or Ring, may also be helping Ohioans deter petty theft and burglary.

What Drives Crime in Ohio’s Communities?

Ohio's social and economic diversity is reflected in its crime rate. High rates of poverty, housing instability and the effects of industrial decline are common problems in cities with high rates of violent crime, such as Cleveland and Springfield. These circumstances are ideal for violent crimes like robbery and assault.

However, many of Ohio's low-crime areas also have things in common, such as strong economies, high rates of homeownership and community-oriented law enforcement. Suburban areas like Avon Lake and Genoa Township serve as examples of how robust community investment and economic opportunity can maintain low crime rates.

Ohio’s geographic configuration may also contribute to its comparatively low rates of property crime. Ohio has a higher percentage of small- to midsized cities compared to states with denser populations, which occasionally restricts the opportunity for property crimes to thrive.

Fortunately, the state's rates of property and violent crime are declining. There's reason to think that safer, stronger communities will continue to expand throughout the Buckeye State as long as Ohio keeps funding community development and encouraging efficient law enforcement techniques.

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5) and, for city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.

Important note: Crime statistics offer valuable insights, but they aren't the only way to evaluate a community's safety. Local law enforcement practices, demographic factors and reporting standards can all influence how crime is recorded. FBI publication tables and data displayed on the Crime Data Explorer may differ slightly due to variations in methodology.

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References

NeighborhoodScout. (2019, Apr). Crime Rates for Ohio.
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/oh/crime