Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Cleveland, OH has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,987.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,899 of 2,957 US cities and #170 of 171 in Ohio.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Cleveland, OH?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Cleveland, Ohio Safe?
Cleveland, a city on Lake Erie, boasts a rich industrial past and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Its diverse population reflects a blend of historic European immigrant communities and growing newer populations.
Cleveland has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,987.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Cleveland ranks #170 out of 171 cities in Ohio and #2899 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Cleveland is murder, at 30.1 per 100K — 4.8x the national average.
Year over year, Cleveland's total crime rate decreased by 8.1%, with violent crime declining 8.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Cleveland Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 5,663 | 1,561.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 109 | 30.1 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 511 | 140.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,412 | 389.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,631 | 1,000.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 16,057 | 4,426.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 3,121 | 860.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 8,777 | 2,419.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4,159 | 1,146.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cleveland vs Ohio Average
How does Cleveland's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?
| Metric | Cleveland | Ohio Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,561.1 | 438.2 | +256.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,426.3 | 2,137.3 | +107.1% |
| Murder Rate | 30.1 | 7.9 | +282.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,987.4 | 2,575.5 | +132.5% |
Cleveland Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Cleveland, Ohio.
Between 2019 and 2024, Cleveland's total crime rate is roughly flat (5,984 → 5,987 per 100,000). Violent crime is roughly flat and property crime roughly flat over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2023 at 6,516 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 362,762 | 5,987.4 | 1,561.1 | 4,426.3 |
| 2023 | 358,146 | 6,515.8 | 1,703.2 | 4,812.6 |
| 2022 | 363,764 | 5,976.4 | 1,623.6 | 4,352.8 |
| 2021 | 379,313 | 5,567.7 | 1,700.4 | 3,867.3 |
| 2020 | 379,121 | 5,860.7 | 1,681.8 | 4,178.9 |
| 2019 | 381,829 | 5,983.8 | 1,516.7 | 4,467.2 |
Cleveland Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Cleveland and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Ohio crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland, Ohio safe?
Cleveland has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,987.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Cleveland is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Cleveland, Ohio?
According to FBI data for 2024, Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1,561.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,426.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Cleveland compare to the national average?
Cleveland's total crime rate of 5,987.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 362,762 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Cleveland?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Cleveland are larceny-theft (8,777 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (4,159 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.8x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Cleveland in 2024?
109 murders were reported to the FBI for Cleveland in 2024 — a homicide rate of 30.1 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Cleveland going up or down?
Cleveland's total crime rate is roughly flat: 0% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (5,987 vs 5,984 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Cleveland safe to visit?
Like any city, Cleveland has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.