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C

Is Lancaster, Ohio Safe?

Population 41,956 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 41,956, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Lancaster earns a C with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,562 per 100K.

Lancaster Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLancasterOhio AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate289.7312.4363.8
Property Crime Rate1972.32033.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate176.0--268.2
Theft Rate1562.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate414.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

226.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

290/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1972/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lancaster

Violent crime in Lancaster is below the national average. The rate of 289.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1972.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,562 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lancaster Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault176
066% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery67
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary342
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,562
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft414
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lancaster Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lancaster
289.7
State
312.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lancaster
1972.3
State
2033.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lancaster Safety

Is Lancaster safe?
Not especially. Lancaster earns a C with a crime rate of 226.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Lancaster?
226.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 289.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1972.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lancaster safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Lancaster's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,562 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lancaster?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lancaster generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lancaster police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lancaster?
Crime rates have held steady in Lancaster, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Lancaster compare to other cities in Ohio?
Below average for the state. Lancaster ranks behind about 64% of Ohio cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
Bad. A C grade and 226.2 per-thousand rate put Lancaster below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 290 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Lancaster?
289.7 per 100,000, which is 20% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (176), robbery (67), and murder (4.0) 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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