Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Sandusky, OH has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,977.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,368 of 2,957 US cities and #146 of 171 in Ohio.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Sandusky, OH?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sandusky, Ohio Safe?
Sandusky, Ohio, on Lake Erie's shore, is known for Cedar Point amusement park. This city is the county seat of Erie County, with a population around 25,000.
Sandusky has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,977.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Sandusky ranks #146 out of 171 cities in Ohio and #2368 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Sandusky is murder, at 12.5 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Sandusky's total crime rate increased by 19.1%, with violent crime rising 169%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sandusky Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 93 | 387.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 3 | 12.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 12 | 50.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 12 | 50.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 66 | 275.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 621 | 2,589.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 95 | 396.2 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 495 | 2,064.1 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 31 | 129.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sandusky vs Ohio Average
How does Sandusky's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?
| Metric | Sandusky | Ohio Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 387.8 | 438.2 | -11.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,589.6 | 2,137.3 | +21.2% |
| Murder Rate | 12.5 | 7.9 | +59.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,977.4 | 2,575.5 | +15.6% |
Sandusky Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sandusky, Ohio.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,981 | 2,977.4 | 387.8 | 2,589.6 |
| 2023 | 24,273 | 2,500.7 | 144.2 | 2,356.5 |
| 2022 | 24,531 | 2,327.7 | 122.3 | 2,205.4 |
| 2021 | 24,172 | 2,676.7 | 153.1 | 2,523.6 |
| 2020 | 24,422 | 3,165.2 | 163.8 | 3,001.4 |
| 2019 | 24,572 | 4,065.6 | 301.2 | 3,764.5 |
Sandusky Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Sandusky 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 Sandusky, Ohio safe?
Sandusky has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,977.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Sandusky is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Sandusky, Ohio?
According to FBI data for 2024, Sandusky has a violent crime rate of 387.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,589.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sandusky compare to the national average?
Sandusky's total crime rate of 2,977.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 23,981 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sandusky?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Sandusky are larceny-theft (495 reported incidents) and burglary (95 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.7x in the city.
Is Sandusky safe to visit?
Like any city, Sandusky has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.