Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Ithaca, NY has a Safety Score of 14/100 — higher crime than 86% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,412.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,558 of 2,971 US cities and #115 of 132 in New York.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ithaca, New York Safe?
Ithaca, home to Cornell University, is a city nestled in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Its dramatic gorges and waterfalls are a defining geographic feature, and its population is relatively young due to the presence of two colleges.
Ithaca has a safety score of 14/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,412.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Ithaca ranks #115 out of 132 cities in New York and #2558 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 14th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 86% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Ithaca is larceny-theft, at 2,838.4 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Ithaca's total crime rate decreased by 9.2%, with violent crime rising 27.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ithaca Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 66 | 196.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 3.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 17.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 16 | 47.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 43 | 127.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,082 | 3,215.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 111 | 329.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 955 | 2,838.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 16 | 47.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ithaca vs New York Average
How does Ithaca's crime rate compare to the New York state average?
| Metric | Ithaca | New York Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 196.2 | 528.5 | -62.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,215.8 | 2,205.9 | +45.8% |
| Murder Rate | 3.0 | 3.8 | -21.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,412.0 | 2,734.4 | +24.8% |
Ithaca Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ithaca, New York.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33,646 | 3,412.0 | 196.2 | 3,215.8 |
| 2023 | 34,332 | 3,757.4 | 154.4 | 3,603.1 |
| 2022 | 31,576 | 4,075.9 | 304.0 | 3,771.9 |
| 2020 | 30,927 | 4,057.9 | 316.9 | 3,741.1 |
| 2019 | 31,122 | 2,830.8 | 131.7 | 2,699.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ithaca, New York safe?
Ithaca has a safety score of 14/100, meaning it has less crime than about 14% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,412.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ithaca is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Ithaca, New York?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ithaca has a violent crime rate of 196.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,215.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ithaca compare to the national average?
Ithaca's total crime rate of 3,412.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 33,646 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ithaca?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ithaca include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Ithaca safe to visit?
Like any city, Ithaca has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 14/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.