Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Oswego, NY has a Safety Score of 9/100 — higher crime than 91% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,892.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,699 of 2,971 US cities and #125 of 132 in New York.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Oswego, New York Safe?
Oswego, a port city on Lake Ontario, was vital during the French and Indian War. Its population is around 17,000, with a significant portion tied to SUNY Oswego.
Oswego has a safety score of 9/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,892.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Oswego ranks #125 out of 132 cities in New York and #2699 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 9th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 91% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Oswego is burglary, at 779.7 per 100K — 2.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Oswego's total crime rate increased by 3.2%, with violent crime rising 24.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Oswego Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 58 | 340.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 5.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 7 | 41.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 46.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 42 | 246.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 606 | 3,552.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 133 | 779.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 450 | 2,638.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 23 | 134.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Oswego vs New York Average
How does Oswego's crime rate compare to the New York state average?
| Metric | Oswego | New York Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 340.0 | 528.5 | -35.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,552.6 | 2,205.9 | +61.1% |
| Murder Rate | 5.9 | 3.8 | +55.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,892.6 | 2,734.4 | +42.4% |
Oswego Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Oswego, New York.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17,058 | 3,892.6 | 340.0 | 3,552.6 |
| 2023 | 17,263 | 3,771.1 | 272.3 | 3,498.8 |
| 2022 | 17,299 | 3,936.6 | 416.2 | 3,520.4 |
| 2021 | 17,132 | 3,525.6 | 233.5 | 3,292.1 |
| 2020 | 17,138 | 2,911.7 | 245.1 | 2,666.6 |
| 2019 | 17,239 | 3,677.7 | 295.8 | 3,381.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oswego, New York safe?
Oswego has a safety score of 9/100, meaning it has less crime than about 9% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,892.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Oswego is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Oswego, New York?
According to FBI data for 2024, Oswego has a violent crime rate of 340.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,552.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Oswego compare to the national average?
Oswego's total crime rate of 3,892.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 17,058 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Oswego?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Oswego include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Oswego safe to visit?
Like any city, Oswego has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 9/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.