Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lancaster, OH has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,530.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,144 of 2,971 US cities and #138 of 172 in Ohio.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lancaster, Ohio Safe?
Lancaster, Ohio, founded in 1800, is a city in Fairfield County known for being the birthplace of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Situated along the Hocking River, its population hovers around 40,000 residents.
Lancaster has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,530.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lancaster ranks #138 out of 172 cities in Ohio and #2144 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lancaster is rape, at 86.4 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Lancaster's total crime rate increased by 0.5%, with violent crime declining 6.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lancaster Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 169 | 405.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 12.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 36 | 86.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 16.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 121 | 290.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 886 | 2,125.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 81 | 194.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 754 | 1,808.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 51 | 122.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lancaster vs Ohio Average
How does Lancaster's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?
| Metric | Lancaster | Ohio Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 405.4 | 437.5 | -7.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,125.4 | 2,133.6 | -0.4% |
| Murder Rate | 12.0 | 7.8 | +52.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,530.8 | 2,571.1 | -1.6% |
Lancaster Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lancaster, Ohio.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41,687 | 2,530.8 | 405.4 | 2,125.4 |
| 2023 | 41,448 | 2,518.8 | 431.9 | 2,087.0 |
| 2022 | 40,937 | 2,452.6 | 273.6 | 2,179.0 |
| 2021 | 41,152 | 1,868.7 | 260.0 | 1,608.7 |
| 2020 | 40,700 | 3,260.4 | 260.4 | 3,000.0 |
| 2019 | 40,622 | 4,061.8 | 270.8 | 3,791.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lancaster, Ohio safe?
Lancaster has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,530.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lancaster is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lancaster, Ohio?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lancaster has a violent crime rate of 405.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,125.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lancaster compare to the national average?
Lancaster's total crime rate of 2,530.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 41,687 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lancaster?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lancaster include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lancaster safe to visit?
Like any city, Lancaster has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.