Is Dayton or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Houston is safer than Dayton (Safety Score 3/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100,000 versus 5,673 for Dayton — 4% lower. Dayton has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Houston has a 53% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 17.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Dayton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dayton, OH
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dayton | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,673.4 | 5,441.7 | +231.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,339.2 | 1,148.3 | +190.9 |
| Murder Rate | 29.7 | 13.8 | +15.9 |
| Rape Rate | 116.4 | 73.0 | +43.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 252.9 | 274.0 | -21.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 940.3 | 787.4 | +152.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,334.2 | 4,293.5 | +40.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 859.4 | 644.8 | +214.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,144.5 | 2,945.7 | -801.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,330.3 | 703.0 | +627.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dayton or Houston safer?
Houston is safer with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100K vs 5,673 for Dayton — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dayton has a violent crime rate of 1,339.2 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Houston has lower violent crime.
About Dayton, OH
Dayton, birthplace of aviation, is a mid-sized city in southwest Ohio. Nestled in the Miami Valley, its population is diverse, with a notable manufacturing legacy. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 134,857, Dayton has a total crime rate of 5,673.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.