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 1,703 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,516

Cleveland, OH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Ohio with 1,703 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,097), robbery (448), rape (120) and homicide (39) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 494% 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: 17,047 1,603 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 62 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,427

The second most dangerous city is East Cleveland. With a population of 17,047 and a violent crime rate that is 459% 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 1,603 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 62 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Springfield Population: 58,957 1,253 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,012

Home to 58,957 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 1,253 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.43 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 337% higher than the Ohio violent crime rate.

Toledo Population: 275,116 1,145 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,139

With a violent crime rate that is 300% higher than the Ohio average, it's not hard to see why Toledo made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (128), assault (895), rape (108) and homicide (14). 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 Toledo more vulnerable to high crime.

Dayton Population: 140,444 1,105 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,813

The ongoing battle with crime in Dayton, 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 1,105 and a 1 in 90 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Dayton has a violent crime rate that is 286% 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 Dayton.

Canton Population: 70,863 1,005 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,259

Canton, OH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,005 per 100,000 people, which is 251% higher than the Ohio average. Canton has a population of 70,863, which translates to 2.75 crimes per day and 1 in 100 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 Canton which are much safer than others.

Whitehall Population: 18,944 989 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,459

A 1 in 101 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.71 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 989 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 245% higher than the Ohio average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (540), robbery (328), rape (111) and homicide (10).

Akron Population: 197,375 785 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,780

Akron, OH is another one of the most dangerous cities in Ohio and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 197,375 and a violent crime rate of 785 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 599 counts of assault, 77 counts of robbery, 99 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. All told, the Akron violent crime rate is 174% higher than the Ohio average.

Portsmouth Population: 20,094 769 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,137

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, Portsmouth, OH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Ohio with a violent crime rate of 769 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.11 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 130 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Mount Healthy Population: 6,845 749 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 134 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,169

Rounding out our list at #10 is Mount Healthy, OH. With a population of 6,845 and a violent crime rate of 749 per 100,000 people (161% higher than the Ohio average), some parts of Mount Healthy are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 558 counts of assault, 117 counts of robbery, 73 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 134 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	1,703	6,516
2	East Cleveland	17,047	1,603	4,427
3	Springfield	58,957	1,253	6,012
4	Toledo	275,116	1,145	4,139
5	Dayton	140,444	1,105	5,813
6	Canton	70,863	1,005	5,259
7	Whitehall	18,944	989	7,459
8	Akron	197,375	785	3,780
9	Portsmouth	20,094	769	5,137
10	Mount Healthy	6,845	749	4,169
11	Uhrichsville	5,332	741	3,180
12	Cincinnati	302,687	728	4,957
13	Moraine	6,494	723	8,691
14	Lima	36,908	709	4,175
15	Youngstown	64,152	677	3,828
16	Trotwood	24,410	607	4,000
17	North College Hill	9,310	553	3,627
18	Garfield Heights	27,673	516	2,400
19	Maple Heights	22,178	505	1,262
20	Lorain	63,832	480	2,291
21	Van Wert	10,531	444	2,989
22	Martins Ferry	6,589	443	919
23	Reynoldsburg	38,016	435	3,320
24	Lancaster	40,438	432	2,519
25	West Carrollton	12,901	428	2,710
26	Reading	10,287	396	2,393
27	Franklin	11,878	396	3,854
28	Port Clinton	6,190	387	1,565
29	Columbus	889,079	385	3,089
30	Mansfield	46,450	366	3,412
31	Marion	36,011	363	1,643
32	Alliance	21,671	343	2,347
33	Cheviot	8,241	341	2,726
34	Jackson	6,233	339	3,135
35	Girard	9,293	338	1,491
36	Zanesville	25,246	330	4,108
37	Barberton	26,030	324	2,371
38	Piqua	21,159	314	3,339
39	Kenton	8,382	293	2,332
40	Hubbard	7,466	291	1,297
41	Niles	18,429	291	3,034
42	East Liverpool	10,632	289	1,177
43	Hamilton	62,162	289	2,188
44	Circleville	13,986	284	2,733
45	Struthers	10,177	284	1,327
46	Newark	49,951	280	2,823
47	Uniontown	7,035	272	3,020
48	Northwood	5,420	269	2,402
49	Springdale	11,201	268	1,787
50	Sidney	20,698	263	2,455

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.