Cleveland vs Detroit Crime Comparison
Is Cleveland or Detroit Safer?
Cleveland is the safer city, with a total crime rate 2% lower than Detroit based on 2024 FBI data. Cleveland has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Detroit has a 53% lower rate.
Cleveland, OH
Safety Score
1/100
Population
362,762
Total Crime Rate
5,987.4
Category Wins
3/7
Detroit, MI
Safety Score
1/100
Population
651,171
Total Crime Rate
6,086.9
Category Wins
4/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cleveland | Detroit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,987.4 | 6,086.9 | -99.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,561.1 | 1,781.6 | -220.5 |
| Murder Rate | 30.1 | 31.2 | -1.1 |
| Rape Rate | 140.9 | 92.9 | +48.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 389.2 | 183.5 | +205.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,000.9 | 1,473.7 | -472.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,426.3 | 4,305.3 | +121.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 860.3 | 703.0 | +157.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,419.5 | 2,343.9 | +75.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,146.5 | 1,258.4 | -111.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland or Detroit safer?
Cleveland is safer with a total crime rate of 5,987 per 100K vs 6,087 for Detroit — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1,561.1 per 100K while Detroit has 1,781.6. Cleveland has lower violent crime.