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C-

Is Ithaca, New York Safe?

Population 33,632 · Safer than 26% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 33,632, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Ithaca earns a C- with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,688 per 100K.

Ithaca Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricIthacaNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate222.3320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2167.72030.01,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate180.0--268.2
Theft Rate1688.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate264.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

239 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

222/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2168/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Ithaca

Violent crime in Ithaca is below the national average. The rate of 222.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2167.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,688 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Ithaca Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault180
067% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery56
088% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary391
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,688
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft264
083% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Ithaca Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Ithaca
222.3
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Ithaca
2167.7
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ithaca Safety

Is Ithaca safe?
Not especially. Ithaca earns a C- with a crime rate of 239 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Ithaca?
239 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 222.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2167.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Ithaca safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Ithaca's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,688 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Ithaca?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Ithaca generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Ithaca police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Ithaca?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Ithaca's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Ithaca compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Ithaca ranks behind about 67% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Ithaca to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Ithaca?
Bad. A C- grade and 239 per-thousand rate put Ithaca below 74% of US cities. Violent crime at 222 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Ithaca?
222.3 per 100,000, which is 39% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (180), robbery (56), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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