Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Olean, NY has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,136.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,744 of 2,971 US cities and #127 of 132 in New York.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Olean, New York Safe?
Olean, a Cattaraugus County city, was once a major oil refining center. Situated in a valley, it is the largest community in its county.
Olean has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,136.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Olean ranks #127 out of 132 cities in New York and #2744 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Olean is larceny-theft, at 3,361.8 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Olean's total crime rate increased by 12.4%, with violent crime rising 5.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Olean Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 47 | 346.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 2 | 14.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 14 | 103.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 31 | 228.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 514 | 3,789.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 46 | 339.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 456 | 3,361.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 12 | 88.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Olean vs New York Average
How does Olean's crime rate compare to the New York state average?
| Metric | Olean | New York Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 346.5 | 528.5 | -34.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,789.4 | 2,205.9 | +71.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 3.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,136.0 | 2,734.4 | +51.3% |
Olean Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Olean, New York.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,564 | 4,136.0 | 346.5 | 3,789.4 |
| 2023 | 13,693 | 3,680.7 | 328.6 | 3,352.1 |
| 2022 | 13,671 | 3,584.2 | 424.3 | 3,160.0 |
| 2021 | 13,272 | 3,096.8 | 361.7 | 2,735.1 |
| 2020 | 13,334 | 2,002.4 | 187.5 | 1,814.9 |
| 2019 | 13,499 | 2,629.8 | 333.4 | 2,296.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Olean, New York safe?
Olean has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,136.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Olean is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Olean, New York?
According to FBI data for 2024, Olean has a violent crime rate of 346.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,789.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Olean compare to the national average?
Olean's total crime rate of 4,136.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 13,564 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Olean?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Olean include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Olean safe to visit?
Like any city, Olean has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.