Top 10 most dangerous cities in Ohio

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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.

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Cleveland Population: 391,340 1,561 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,987

Cleveland, OH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Ohio with 1,561 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,001), robbery (389), rape (141) and homicide (30) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 432% 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.

East Cleveland Population: 17,563 1,410 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 71 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,409

The second most dangerous city is East Cleveland. With a population of 17,563 and a violent crime rate that is 380% higher than the Ohio average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in East Cleveland are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,410 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 71 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Springfield Population: 60,312 1,371 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,887

Home to 60,312 residents, Springfield, OH ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Ohio. Unfortunately for residents of Springfield, crime is widespread, with more than 1,371 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.76 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 367% higher than the Ohio violent crime rate.

Dayton Population: 145,927 1,339 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 75 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,673

With a violent crime rate that is 356% 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 (253), assault (940), rape (116) and homicide (30). 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.

Canton Population: 73,469 1,122 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 89 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,576

The ongoing battle with crime in Canton, 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 1,122 and a 1 in 89 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Canton has a violent crime rate that is 282% 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 Canton.

Whitehall Population: 19,429 1,051 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,009

Whitehall, OH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,051 per 100,000 people, which is 258% higher than the Ohio average. Whitehall has a population of 19,429, which translates to 2.88 crimes per day and 1 in 95 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 Whitehall which are much safer than others.

Toledo Population: 281,644 1,041 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,773

A 1 in 96 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.85 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Toledo makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,041 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 254% higher than the Ohio average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (823), robbery (107), rape (99) and homicide (12).

North College Hill Population: 9,523 915 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,085

North College Hill, OH is another one of the most dangerous cities in Ohio and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 9,523 and a violent crime rate of 915 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 649 counts of assault, 181 counts of robbery, 74 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the North College Hill violent crime rate is 211% higher than the Ohio average.

Cincinnati Population: 309,429 846 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 118 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,675

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, Cincinnati, OH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Ohio with a violent crime rate of 846 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.32 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 118 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Akron Population: 203,042 820 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,775

Rounding out our list at #10 is Akron, OH. With a population of 203,042 and a violent crime rate of 820 per 100,000 people (179% higher than the Ohio average), some parts of Akron are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 612 counts of assault, 82 counts of robbery, 113 counts of rape and 13 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 122 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	391,340	1,561	5,987
2	East Cleveland	17,563	1,410	4,409
3	Springfield	60,312	1,371	5,887
4	Dayton	145,927	1,339	5,673
5	Canton	73,469	1,122	4,576
6	Whitehall	19,429	1,051	7,009
7	Toledo	281,644	1,041	3,773
8	North College Hill	9,523	915	4,085
9	Cincinnati	309,429	846	4,675
10	Akron	203,042	820	3,775
11	Lima	38,026	758	4,127
12	Portsmouth	20,625	715	4,572
13	Trotwood	25,200	699	3,516
14	Youngstown	65,739	688	3,441
15	Uhrichsville	5,483	625	2,070
16	Moraine	6,719	588	6,992
17	Lorain	66,173	581	2,132
18	Piqua	21,958	523	3,514
19	Reynoldsburg	38,884	480	2,878
20	Springdale	11,614	478	3,857
21	Mount Healthy	6,996	470	2,893
22	Garfield Heights	28,463	464	2,334
23	Marion	36,920	447	1,767
24	Columbus	914,920	435	3,088
25	Lancaster	41,994	405	2,531
26	Sandusky	25,201	388	2,977
27	West Carrollton	13,301	352	2,000
28	Martins Ferry	6,837	349	747
29	Port Clinton	6,345	339	1,355
30	Zanesville	26,125	333	3,174
31	Sharonville	15,006	319	2,201
32	Cheviot	8,453	317	2,387
33	Massillon	33,654	316	2,134
34	Findlay	42,458	314	1,948
35	Hamilton	64,032	313	2,370
36	Sidney	21,359	311	2,392
37	Barberton	26,844	304	2,379
38	Niles	19,041	291	3,077
39	Elyria	55,802	291	1,770
40	Toronto	5,543	291	407
41	Jackson	6,381	291	2,310
42	Wooster	27,464	286	2,351
43	Forest Park	19,147	284	1,972
44	Struthers	10,498	283	1,357
45	Newark	51,756	282	1,909
46	Circleville	14,509	280	1,983
47	Xenia	27,373	279	1,739
48	Alliance	22,517	275	2,336
49	Fairborn	34,620	273	1,567
50	Fremont	16,617	272	2,535

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.