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D

Is Cleveland, Ohio Safe?

Population 363,608 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cleveland has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 258.3 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,356 per 100K.

Cleveland Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricClevelandOhio AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate346.2312.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2237.22033.51,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate208.0--268.2
Theft Rate1356.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate485.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

258.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

346/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2237/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cleveland

Violent crime in Cleveland is close to the national average. The rate of 346.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2237.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,356 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cleveland Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault208
078% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery62
098% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary298
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,356
097% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft485
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Cleveland Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cleveland
346.2
State
312.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cleveland
2237.2
State
2033.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleveland Safety

Is Cleveland safe?
Not especially. Cleveland earns a D with a crime rate of 258.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cleveland?
258.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 346.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2237.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cleveland safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cleveland's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,356 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cleveland?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cleveland generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cleveland police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cleveland?
No. Crime in Cleveland has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Cleveland compare to other cities in Ohio?
Below average for the state. Cleveland ranks behind about 85% of Ohio cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Cleveland to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Cleveland?
Bad. A D grade and 258.3 per-thousand rate put Cleveland below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 346 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cleveland?
346.2 per 100,000, which is 5% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (208), robbery (62), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Ohio

Similar-sized communities in Ohio. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
See crime rates in Cincinnati314,367 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Toledo263,423 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Akron189,691 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Dayton136,688 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Parma78,581 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Canton69,001 pop · Grade C
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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