OH · 6 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Ohio
Ohio recorded 288 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 13% below the national rate and down 10% since 2022. Of the 6 cities we cover, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo have the highest rates and Columbus the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Columbus
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Akron
Dayton
ToledoFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Ohio, ranked
The 6 Ohio cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 6 of 6 run above the state average of 288. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Cleveland
1,367 violent crimes per 100k
4.7× the state average
- 2
Dayton
1,229 violent crimes per 100k
4.3× the state average
- 3
Toledo
872 violent crimes per 100k
3.0× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | 1,367 | 3,969 | 363,659 |
| 2 | Dayton | 1,229 | 4,028 | 136,047 |
| 3 | Toledo | 872 | 2,542 | 264,490 |
| 4 | Akron | 872 | 2,856 | 189,545 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | 787 | 3,606 | 316,260 |
| 6 | Columbus | 382 | 2,539 | 940,106 |
| Ohio average | 288 | 1,471 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Ohio we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 6 cities in this ranking.
- Columbus382 per 100k · 1.3× the state average
- Cincinnati787 per 100k · 2.7× the state average
- Akron872 per 100k · 3.0× the state average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Ohio crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Ohio?
Of the 6 Ohio cities in our ranking, Cleveland has the highest violent crime rate: 1,367 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 4.7 times the state average. Dayton and Toledo come next. Even in Cleveland, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Cleveland guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Ohio?
Among the cities we rank, Columbus has the lowest violent crime rate, at 382 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.3 times the state average. Cincinnati follows with 787. All 6 are large cities with rates above the Ohio average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Ohio safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Ohio recorded 288 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 13% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 6 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Ohio cities have above-average crime?
6 of the 6 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Ohio average of 288 per 100,000 residents: Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, Akron, Cincinnati and Columbus. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Ohio?
Violent crime in Ohio went from 319 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 288 in 2025, down 10%. Property crime went from 1,866 to 1,471 over 2022–2025, down 21%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.