Is Bellefontaine or Cleveland Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bellefontaine is safer than Cleveland (Safety Score 78/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 896 per 100,000 versus 5,987 for Cleveland — 85% lower. Bellefontaine has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bellefontaine has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Cleveland is 25.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bellefontaine — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cleveland — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bellefontaine, OH
Cleveland, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bellefontaine | Cleveland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 896.1 | 5,987.4 | -5,091.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 106.7 | 1,561.1 | -1,454.4 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 30.1 | -30.1 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 140.9 | -140.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 389.2 | -389.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 106.7 | 1,000.9 | -894.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 789.4 | 4,426.3 | -3,636.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 64.0 | 860.3 | -796.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 668.5 | 2,419.5 | -1,751.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 56.9 | 1,146.5 | -1,089.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellefontaine or Cleveland safer?
Bellefontaine is safer with a total crime rate of 896 per 100K vs 5,987 for Cleveland — a 85% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bellefontaine has a violent crime rate of 106.7 per 100K while Cleveland has 1,561.1. Bellefontaine has lower violent crime.
About Bellefontaine, OH
Bellefontaine, Ohio, home to the first concrete street in America, is a small city in Logan County. It sits at the highest elevation in Ohio, attracting visitors to Campbell Hill. With a safety score of 78/100 and a population coverage of 14,061, Bellefontaine has a total crime rate of 896.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Cleveland, OH
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. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 362,762, Cleveland has a total crime rate of 5,987.4 per 100,000 residents.