Share

Cleveland, OH vs Defiance, OH Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Cleveland crime rate · Defiance crime rate

Moving from Cleveland, OH to Defiance, OH?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Cleveland, OH or Defiance, OH Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Defiance, OH is safer than Cleveland, OH (Safety Score 60/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 1,397 per 100,000 versus 5,987 for Cleveland, OH — 77% lower. Cleveland has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Defiance has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Cleveland is 21.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Defiance — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, OH
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 362,762
Total Crime Rate 5,987.4
Category Wins 0/7

Defiance, OH

Defiance, OH
Safety Score 60/100
Coverage 17,042
Total Crime Rate 1,396.6
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cleveland Defiance Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,987.4 1,396.6 +4,590.9
Violent Crime Rate 1,561.1 217.1 +1,344.0
Murder Rate 30.1 0.0 +30.1
Rape Rate 140.9 58.7 +82.2
Robbery Rate 389.2 0.0 +389.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 1,000.9 158.4 +842.5
Property Crime Rate 4,426.3 1,179.4 +3,246.9
Burglary Rate 860.3 123.2 +737.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,419.5 1,038.6 +1,380.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,146.5 17.6 +1,128.9

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Cleveland, OH to Defiance, OH?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cleveland or Defiance safer?

Defiance, OH is safer with a total crime rate of 1,397 per 100K vs 5,987 for Cleveland, OH — a 77% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1,561.1 per 100K while Defiance has 217.1. Defiance has lower violent crime.

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.

About Defiance, OH

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. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 17,042, Defiance has a total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons