Ohio’s Safest Cities of 2026

See crime rates for the safest cities.

In our latest State of Safety survey, respondents in Ohio were more likely to have experienced violent crime and gun violence compared to the previous year. Property crime and package theft seem to be waning and now fall below national averages.

Meanwhile, some of Ohio's 10 safest cities saw incredible year-over-year decreases in their violent crime and property crime rates.  

The violent crime rate in Ohio is 4.29 incidents per 1,000 people, which is just under the national average of 4.43. We weren't able to report a statewide violent crime rate last year due to insufficient data, but in our 2024 report, Ohio reported a lower violent crime rate of 3.7.

Property crime in The Buckeye State also increased in recent years, rising from 19.0 incidents per 1,000 people in 2024 to 21.72 incidents in this year's report. On the plus side, that's lower than the national property crime rate of 22.89. 

Ohioans who took our State of Safety survey reported no change in their confidence level. About 46% say they feel safe in the state, which is lower than the national average of 52%.  

Compared to the previous reporting year, property crime experiences decreased in Ohio and residents' concern stayed the same. Package theft experiences also decreased, as did residents' level of concern. 

• 20% of Ohio residents told us they personally experienced a property crime in the 12 months prior to our survey, down from 26% the year before (US 21%).
• For the third year in a row, 48% of Buckeyes say they worry about property crime on a daily basis (US 46%). 
• 29% said they experienced a package theft, down from 34% the previous year (US 31%).
• Concern about package theft fell from 53% to 42% year over year (US 44%).
• Ohio residents prefer to protect their property with security cameras (52%) and security systems (30%).
• 30% told us they use no form of property protection, which is the second highest percentage in the nation behind Massachusetts (32%).
• 37% said they added security or safety measures in the 12 months prior to our survey, which is the fifth highest percentage nationwide (US 32%). 

Violent crime experiences increased year over year in Ohio, and Ohioans report some of the highest levels of violent crime experiences in the nation. This is a dramatic shift from our 2025 report, which showed Ohio residents were among those least likely to have first-hand experience with violent crime. 

• 17% of Buckeyes said they experienced a violent crime in the 12 months prior to our survey, up dramatically from 9% the year before (US 12%).
• Residents of only five other states were more likely to have experienced a violent crime, including Ohio's neighbors in Indiana (23%) and Pennsylvania (21%). 
• The percentage of Ohio residents who worry about violent crime on a daily basis fell from 58% to 56% year over year, placing the state just above the national average of 55%.
• 39% of survey participants report using some form of personal protection.
• Ohio residents prefer to protect themselves with pocket knives (49%), pepper spray (44%), and firearms (41%). 

• 14% of Ohio residents said they personally experienced gun violence in the 12 months prior to our survey, which is double last year's percentage of 7% (US 9%).
• Only residents of four other states were more likely to have experienced gun violence, including Ohio's neighbors in Pennsylvania (22%) and Indiana (19%).
• Concern about gun violence fell from 61% to 55% year over year (US 55%).
• There were 22 mass shootings in Ohio in 2025, up from 17 in 2024.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 170 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Broadview Heights is this year's safest city in Ohio.
• 3 of the safest cities saw their property crime rate decrease each year for the past two years: Broadview Heights, Olmsted Township, and Avon Lake.
• Brecksville, Mayfield Heights, Aurora, and Trenton saw year-over-year decreases in both violent crime and property crime.
• Trenton rose 32 places in the rankings thanks to a 40% decrease in violent crime and a 67% decrease in property crime.
• Mayfield Heights rose 27 places in the rankings thanks to an 80% decrease in violent crime and a 39% decrease in property crime. 
• Over the last two years, Mayfield Heights' property crime rate has dropped by 73%. 
• Aurora rose 24 places in the rankings thanks to a 50% decrease in violent crime and a 45% decrease in property crime. 
• 80% of Ohio's safest cities are suburbs of Cleveland. Only Genoa Township and Trenton are located elsewhere.
• Broadview Heights and Genoa Townships reported no aggravated assaults. 
• 1 murder was reported in Ohio's 10 safest cities. It happened in Olmsted Township. 
• Broadview Heights and Brecksville reported no robberies.
• Mayfield Heights reported no motor vehicle thefts.

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