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C

Is Bowling Green, Ohio Safe?

Population 31,182 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 31,182, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Bowling Green earns a C with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,322 per 100K.

Bowling Green Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBowling GreenOhio AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate278.6312.4363.8
Property Crime Rate1849.12033.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate184.0--268.2
Theft Rate1322.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate439.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

212.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

279/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1849/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bowling Green

Violent crime in Bowling Green is below the national average. The rate of 278.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1849.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,322 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bowling Green Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault184
069% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary331
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,322
094% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft439
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Bowling Green Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bowling Green
278.6
State
312.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bowling Green
1849.1
State
2033.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Bowling Green Safety

Is Bowling Green safe?
Not especially. Bowling Green earns a C with a crime rate of 212.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bowling Green?
212.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 278.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1849.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bowling Green safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Bowling Green has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bowling Green?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bowling Green generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bowling Green police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bowling Green?
Crime rates have held steady in Bowling Green, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Bowling Green compare to other cities in Ohio?
Below average for the state. Bowling Green ranks behind about 71% of Ohio cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Bowling Green to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Bowling Green?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Bowling Green?
278.6 per 100,000, which is 23% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (184), robbery (59), and murder (5.0) 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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