Cleveland, OH Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleveland Crime (2026)

Is Cleveland safe to live in?

Cleveland's safety picture is genuinely mixed — and the numbers tell an interesting story. Across 39 analyzed neighborhoods, 51% earn a combined A or B grade, meaning roughly half the city qualifies as relatively safe by standard crime metrics. Another 28.2% of neighborhoods hold a C grade (moderate risk), while 21% fall into the higher-crime D or F range. The city-wide safety rating lands at a C (Moderate), though the overall crime grade for Cleveland is a D, reflecting concentrated pockets of serious crime that pull the citywide average down. Neighborhoods like Onaway (A+) and Kamm's Corners (A) demonstrate that safe, stable communities do exist within Cleveland's borders — but prospective residents should research specific neighborhoods carefully rather than treating the city as uniform.

What is the crime rate in Cleveland, and how does it break down by neighborhood grade?

Cleveland's overall crime grade is a D for 2026, but that headline figure masks significant neighborhood-level variation. Of the 39 neighborhoods analyzed: 17.9% earned an A grade (7 neighborhoods), 33.3% earned a B grade (13 neighborhoods), 28.2% earned a C grade (11 neighborhoods), 15.4% earned a D grade (6 neighborhoods), and 5.1% earned an F grade (2 neighborhoods). The two F-rated neighborhoods — Central and Hough — represent the most concentrated crime risk in the city. D-rated areas including Kinsman, Fairfax, and Buckeye-Woodhill also carry elevated risk. Contextual factors like Cleveland's 32% poverty rate, 12.4% unemployment rate, and a median household income of just $31,838 help explain why crime remains persistently high in economically distressed corridors.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Cleveland in 2026?

Seven Cleveland neighborhoods earned an A grade in 2026, led by Onaway (A+, median income $123,697) and Malvern (A+, median income $176,684) — both small, higher-income communities on the west side. Kamm's Corners is the largest A-rated neighborhood with a population of 22,416 and a median income of $66,643, making it a practical option for families seeking safety without sacrificing community size. Boulevard (A-, $112,731 median income) and Jefferson (A-, $51,939 median income) round out the top five. Notably, Old Brooklyn — Cleveland's most populous A-rated neighborhood at 31,186 residents — earns an A- grade with a median income of $49,610, demonstrating that affordability and safety can coexist. Bellaire-Puritas (A-, $45,075) similarly offers lower-cost housing in a safer corridor. Among B+ neighborhoods, Hopkins, Moreland, and Ludlow are worth considering for those who want proximity to more central areas with still-manageable crime levels.

Which Cleveland neighborhoods have the highest crime rates?

The two neighborhoods rated F — Central and Hough — carry the highest crime concentration in Cleveland. Both are historically underinvested communities on the east side with persistent violent and property crime challenges. Kinsman and Fairfax each earn a D-, placing them among the most at-risk areas in the city. Buckeye-Woodhill holds a D+, indicating elevated but slightly less severe conditions. Together, the D and F neighborhoods account for 21% of all analyzed neighborhoods. These areas tend to correlate with the city's lowest income levels and highest unemployment concentrations — factors that the Cleveland crime map data consistently shows are linked to higher crime grades across the board.

Is Cleveland a good place to live in 2026?

Cleveland offers genuine affordability — a median home value of $73,012 and median rent of $735/month place it among the most accessible housing markets of any major metro area. That affordability, combined with the city's cultural institutions, sports culture, and diverse neighborhoods, attracts many residents. However, the economic fundamentals are challenging: a poverty rate of 32%, unemployment at 12.4%, and a median household income of $31,838 create structural pressures that contribute to the city's D overall crime grade. The good news is that 51% of neighborhoods earn an A or B safety grade, so quality of life varies dramatically by location. West-side neighborhoods like Old Brooklyn, Kamm's Corners, and Jefferson consistently score well on safety while remaining accessible to moderate-income households. Anyone considering Cleveland should use the neighborhood-level crime grades — not just the citywide D — to identify where conditions actually align with their priorities.

How does Cleveland's crime compare across its 39 neighborhoods?

The spread across Cleveland's 39 neighborhoods is striking. The gap between the safest area — Malvern (A+) with a median income of $176,684 — and the highest-crime areas like Central (F) illustrates how dramatically conditions differ within a single city. Roughly one in six neighborhoods (17.9%) earns an A grade, while just one in twenty (5.1%) earns an F. The largest share — 33.3%, or 13 neighborhoods — lands at a B, suggesting that a meaningful portion of Cleveland offers reasonably safe conditions. The C-grade tier (28.2%, 11 neighborhoods) represents areas where residents should exercise standard urban precautions. Income correlates strongly with grade: A-rated neighborhoods average well above the city's $31,838 median income, while F-rated neighborhoods fall significantly below it. Using the Cleveland crime map to filter by grade and cross-reference with income and population data gives the clearest picture of where safety and livability intersect.