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C-

Is Amherst, Ohio Safe?

Population 12,974 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 12,974, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Amherst earns a C- with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,553 per 100K.

Amherst Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricAmherstOhio AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate224.4312.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2070.22033.51,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate182.0--268.2
Theft Rate1553.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate441.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

229.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

224/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2070/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Amherst

Violent crime in Amherst is below the national average. The rate of 224.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2070.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,553 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Amherst Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault182
068% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery36
057% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary274
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,553
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft441
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Amherst Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Amherst
224.4
State
312.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Amherst
2070.2
State
2033.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Amherst Safety

Is Amherst safe?
Not especially. Amherst earns a C- with a crime rate of 229.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Amherst?
229.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 224.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2070.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Amherst safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Amherst's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,553 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Amherst?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Amherst generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Amherst police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Amherst?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Amherst's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Amherst compare to other cities in Ohio?
Below average for the state. Amherst ranks behind about 62% of Ohio cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Amherst 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 Amherst?
Bad. A C- grade and 229.5 per-thousand rate put Amherst below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 224 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Amherst?
224.4 per 100,000, which is 38% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (182), robbery (36), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

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View all Ohio city safety grades

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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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