Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Defiance, OH has a Safety Score of 60/100 — safer than 60% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,196 of 2,971 US cities and #84 of 172 in Ohio.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Defiance, Ohio Safe?
Defiance, Ohio, named for Fort Defiance built by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, is a small city in northwest Ohio at the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. Its population is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic community.
Defiance has a safety score of 60/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Defiance ranks #84 out of 172 cities in Ohio and #1196 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 60th percentile for safety — safer than 60% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Defiance is rape, at 58.7 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Defiance's total crime rate decreased by 17.4%, with violent crime declining 16.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Defiance Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 37 | 217.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 10 | 58.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 27 | 158.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 201 | 1,179.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 21 | 123.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 177 | 1,038.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 17.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Defiance vs Ohio Average
How does Defiance's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?
| Metric | Defiance | Ohio Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 217.1 | 437.5 | -50.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,179.4 | 2,133.6 | -44.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,396.6 | 2,571.1 | -45.7% |
Defiance Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Defiance, Ohio.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17,042 | 1,396.6 | 217.1 | 1,179.4 |
| 2023 | 16,965 | 1,691.7 | 259.4 | 1,432.4 |
| 2022 | 16,923 | 1,459.6 | 260.0 | 1,199.6 |
| 2021 | 16,415 | 1,492.5 | 225.4 | 1,267.1 |
| 2020 | 16,576 | 1,574.6 | 150.8 | 1,423.8 |
| 2019 | 16,601 | 1,487.9 | 132.5 | 1,355.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Defiance, Ohio safe?
Defiance has a safety score of 60/100, meaning it has less crime than about 60% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Defiance is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Defiance, Ohio?
According to FBI data for 2024, Defiance has a violent crime rate of 217.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,179.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Defiance compare to the national average?
Defiance's total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 17,042 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Defiance?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Defiance include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Defiance safe to visit?
Like any city, Defiance has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 60/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.