Is Cleveland or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Cleveland (Safety Score 19/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 5,987 for Cleveland — 49% lower. Cleveland has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 87% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 22.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Cleveland — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cleveland, OH
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cleveland | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,987.4 | 3,039.7 | +2,947.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,561.1 | 671.4 | +889.7 |
| Murder Rate | 30.1 | 3.9 | +26.1 |
| Rape Rate | 140.9 | 23.4 | +117.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 389.2 | 187.5 | +201.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,000.9 | 456.2 | +544.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,426.3 | 2,368.3 | +2,058.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 860.3 | 154.7 | +705.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,419.5 | 2,015.0 | +404.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,146.5 | 198.5 | +947.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 5,987 for Cleveland — a 49% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1,561.1 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City 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 New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.