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: 383,331 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: 17,047 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 17,047 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: 58,957 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 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 1,371 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: 140,444 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: 70,863 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: 18,944 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 18,944, 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: 275,116 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: 9,310 915 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 9,310 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: 302,687 846 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: 197,375 820 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 197,375 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	383,331	1,561	5,987
2	East Cleveland	17,047	1,410	4,409
3	Springfield	58,957	1,371	5,887
4	Dayton	140,444	1,339	5,673
5	Canton	70,863	1,122	4,576
6	Whitehall	18,944	1,051	7,009
7	Toledo	275,116	1,041	3,773
8	North College Hill	9,310	915	4,085
9	Cincinnati	302,687	846	4,675
10	Akron	197,375	820	3,775
11	Lima	36,908	758	4,127
12	Portsmouth	20,094	715	4,572
13	Trotwood	24,410	699	3,516
14	Youngstown	64,152	688	3,441
15	Uhrichsville	5,332	625	2,070
16	Moraine	6,494	588	6,992
17	Lorain	63,832	581	2,132
18	Piqua	21,159	523	3,514
19	Reynoldsburg	38,016	480	2,878
20	Springdale	11,201	478	3,857
21	Mount Healthy	6,845	470	2,893
22	Garfield Heights	27,673	464	2,334
23	Marion	36,011	447	1,767
24	Columbus	889,079	435	3,088
25	Lancaster	40,438	405	2,531
26	Sandusky	24,651	388	2,977
27	West Carrollton	12,901	352	2,000
28	Martins Ferry	6,589	349	747
29	Port Clinton	6,190	339	1,355
30	Zanesville	25,246	333	3,174
31	Sharonville	14,659	319	2,201
32	Cheviot	8,241	317	2,387
33	Massillon	32,484	316	2,134
34	Findlay	41,098	314	1,948
35	Hamilton	62,162	313	2,370
36	Sidney	20,698	311	2,392
37	Barberton	26,030	304	2,379
38	Niles	18,429	291	3,077
39	Elyria	53,844	291	1,770
40	Toronto	5,357	291	407
41	Jackson	6,233	291	2,310
42	Wooster	26,557	286	2,351
43	Forest Park	18,632	284	1,972
44	Struthers	10,177	283	1,357
45	Newark	49,951	282	1,909
46	Circleville	13,986	280	1,983
47	Xenia	26,751	279	1,739
48	Alliance	21,671	275	2,336
49	Fairborn	33,456	273	1,567
50	Fremont	16,005	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.