Top 10 most dangerous cities in Ohio

Ohio, known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Cleveland to the scenic beauty of Hocking Hills, Ohio provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Ohio faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Ohio are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Ohio's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Ohio involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Ohio. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Ohio's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Cleveland Population: 383,331 1,614 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 62 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,931

Cleveland, OH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Ohio with 1,614 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,023), robbery (426), rape (125) and homicide (40) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 450% higher than the Ohio average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Springfield Population: 58,957 1,204 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,718

The second most dangerous city is Springfield. With a population of 58,957 and a violent crime rate that is 310% higher than the Ohio average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Springfield are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,204 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 83 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Canton Population: 70,863 1,180 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,728

Home to 70,863 residents, Canton, OH ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Ohio. Unfortunately for residents of Canton, crime is widespread, with more than 1,180 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.23 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 302% higher than the Ohio violent crime rate.

Dayton Population: 140,444 1,171 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,457

With a violent crime rate that is 299% higher than the Ohio average, it's not hard to see why Dayton made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (189), assault (809), rape (148) and homicide (25). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Dayton more vulnerable to high crime.

Toledo Population: 275,116 1,163 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,244

The ongoing battle with crime in Toledo, OH, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,163 and a 1 in 86 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Toledo has a violent crime rate that is 296% higher than the Ohio average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Toledo.

East Cleveland Population: 17,047 1,058 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,316

East Cleveland, OH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,058 per 100,000 people, which is 260% higher than the Ohio average. East Cleveland has a population of 17,047, which translates to 2.90 crimes per day and 1 in 94 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in East Cleveland which are much safer than others.

Whitehall Population: 18,944 851 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 118 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,883

A 1 in 118 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.33 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Whitehall makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 851 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 190% higher than the Ohio average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (488), robbery (234), rape (124) and homicide (5).

Cincinnati Population: 302,687 842 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,593

Cincinnati, OH is another one of the most dangerous cities in Ohio and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 302,687 and a violent crime rate of 842 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 526 counts of assault, 208 counts of robbery, 84 counts of rape and 24 counts of homicide. All told, the Cincinnati violent crime rate is 187% higher than the Ohio average.

Akron Population: 197,375 821 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,250

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Akron, OH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Ohio with a violent crime rate of 821 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.25 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 122 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Moraine Population: 6,494 810 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,370

Rounding out our list at #10 is Moraine, OH. With a population of 6,494 and a violent crime rate of 810 per 100,000 people (176% higher than the Ohio average), some parts of Moraine are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 489 counts of assault, 107 counts of robbery, 199 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Ohio

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Cleveland	383,331	1,614	5,931
2	Springfield	58,957	1,204	5,718
3	Canton	70,863	1,180	6,728
4	Dayton	140,444	1,171	5,457
5	Toledo	275,116	1,163	4,244
6	East Cleveland	17,047	1,058	3,316
7	Whitehall	18,944	851	6,883
8	Cincinnati	302,687	842	4,593
9	Akron	197,375	821	4,250
10	Moraine	6,494	810	7,370
11	Youngstown	64,152	686	3,557
12	Lima	36,908	645	4,266
13	Trotwood	24,410	584	3,864
14	Uhrichsville	5,332	522	2,395
15	Garfield Heights	27,673	482	2,243
16	Mansfield	46,450	479	3,674
17	Lorain	63,832	470	2,287
18	Columbus	889,079	450	3,934
19	Warren	38,986	439	3,302
20	Portsmouth	20,094	397	2,995
21	Hamilton	62,162	384	2,584
22	Bedford Heights	10,530	363	2,906
23	Forest Park	18,632	363	2,295
24	Piqua	21,159	361	3,368
25	Franklin	11,878	353	3,723
26	Barberton	26,030	342	2,878
27	Jackson	6,233	340	2,091
28	Kenton	8,382	340	3,023
29	Van Wert	10,531	318	2,662
30	Alliance	21,671	312	2,764
31	Sidney	20,698	300	2,595
32	Zanesville	25,246	300	3,829
33	Wellston	5,522	296	2,444
34	Bucyrus	11,808	294	2,126
35	Germantown	5,530	293	862
36	Martins Ferry	6,589	292	924
37	Norwood	19,843	290	3,145
38	Niles	18,429	283	3,004
39	Milford	6,840	279	2,509
40	Fairborn	33,456	274	1,486
41	Wooster	26,557	273	2,639
42	Euclid	46,861	271	2,176
43	Lancaster	40,438	266	2,418
44	Defiance	16,741	260	1,460
45	Reading	10,287	251	2,774
46	Englewood	13,474	247	2,692
47	Middletown	48,765	243	2,425
48	Napoleon	8,310	240	1,704
49	Gahanna	35,442	239	2,613
50	Circleville	13,986	238	3,048

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Ohio is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Ohio cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.