Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Dayton, OH has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 97% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,673.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,884 of 2,957 US cities and #168 of 171 in Ohio.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Dayton, OH?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Dayton, Ohio Safe?
Dayton, birthplace of aviation, is a mid-sized city in southwest Ohio. Nestled in the Miami Valley, its population is diverse, with a notable manufacturing legacy.
Dayton has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,673.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Dayton ranks #168 out of 171 cities in Ohio and #2884 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 3rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 97% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Dayton is murder, at 29.7 per 100K — 4.7x the national average.
Year over year, Dayton's total crime rate decreased by 2.4%, with violent crime rising 21.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Dayton Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,806 | 1,339.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 40 | 29.7 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 157 | 116.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 341 | 252.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,268 | 940.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 5,845 | 4,334.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 1,159 | 859.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,892 | 2,144.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,794 | 1,330.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dayton vs Ohio Average
How does Dayton's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?
| Metric | Dayton | Ohio Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,339.2 | 438.2 | +205.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,334.2 | 2,137.3 | +102.8% |
| Murder Rate | 29.7 | 7.9 | +277.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,673.4 | 2,575.5 | +120.3% |
Dayton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Dayton, Ohio.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 134,857 | 5,673.4 | 1,339.2 | 4,334.2 |
| 2023 | 135,181 | 5,813.0 | 1,105.2 | 4,707.8 |
| 2022 | 137,084 | 5,482.8 | 1,175.2 | 4,307.6 |
| 2021 | 139,671 | 4,675.3 | 1,041.7 | 3,633.5 |
| 2020 | 140,193 | 5,029.5 | 1,131.3 | 3,898.2 |
| 2019 | 140,427 | 5,001.9 | 962.1 | 4,039.8 |
Dayton Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Dayton 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 Dayton, Ohio safe?
Dayton 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 5,673.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Dayton is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Dayton, Ohio?
According to FBI data for 2024, Dayton has a violent crime rate of 1,339.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,334.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Dayton compare to the national average?
Dayton's total crime rate of 5,673.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 134,857 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Dayton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Dayton are larceny-theft (2,892 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (1,794 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.2x in the city.
Is Dayton safe to visit?
Like any city, Dayton 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.