Painesville, OH Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Painesville, OH

Is Painesville, OH safe?

Painesville carries an overall crime grade of D, which signals that safety is a genuine concern for residents and prospective movers. The city's poverty rate of 22.3% and unemployment rate of 5.5% — both above national averages — are factors that research consistently links to elevated crime levels. That said, crime is not uniform across the city. Areas closer to the historic downtown corridor and neighborhoods near the Lake Erie shoreline tend to see lower incident concentrations, while certain inland residential pockets experience higher property crime activity. Exercising situational awareness, particularly after dark, is advisable throughout the city.

What is the crime rate in Painesville, OH?

Painesville's overall crime performance earns a D grade, placing it in the lower tier of safety rankings among Ohio cities of comparable size. With a population of approximately 19,817 and a population density of 1,121 people per square mile, the city is moderately dense, which can concentrate certain types of incidents. Property crimes — including theft and burglary — make up the majority of reported offenses, consistent with patterns seen in communities where the median household income ($47,259) and median home value ($112,571) reflect economic pressure. Violent crime, while less frequent than property crime, is not negligible and tends to cluster in higher-poverty census tracts where the poverty rate approaches or exceeds the citywide figure of 22.3%.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Painesville?

While granular neighborhood-level grades are not published separately, crime map data consistently shows that incidents are not evenly distributed across Painesville's roughly 17.7 square miles. Residential areas along the northern edge of the city near Lake Erie, as well as sections of Painesville Township immediately bordering the city, tend to report fewer incidents per capita. The historic downtown district benefits from higher foot traffic and more active community policing, which can deter opportunistic property crime. Conversely, neighborhoods with higher concentrations of households below the poverty line — which citywide stands at 22.3% — show up more frequently on the crime heat map. Filtering the interactive crime map by incident type and time range is the most reliable way to assess any specific block or corridor.

How does Painesville's crime compare to other Ohio cities?

A D overall crime grade puts Painesville below the median for Ohio municipalities. For context, cities with similar populations and comparable poverty rates — typically in the 20–25% range — often score in the C-to-D band, so Painesville is not an outlier, but it is not a standout performer either. The city's median rent of $826 and median household income of $47,259 suggest a cost-burdened renter population, a demographic profile associated with higher turnover and, in some studies, modestly elevated property crime rates. Residents relocating from higher-crime urban cores may find Painesville's absolute incident counts manageable, while those coming from lower-crime suburbs may notice the difference.

Is Painesville a good place to live despite its crime grade?

A D crime grade is a meaningful data point, but it is one factor among many. Painesville offers genuinely affordable housing — the median home value is $112,571, well below the Ohio statewide median — and median rents of $826 make it accessible for working families. The city's location on Lake Erie, its walkable historic downtown, and its proximity to the Cleveland metro area add lifestyle value. The trade-off is a crime environment that requires more active personal safety habits: securing property, participating in neighborhood watch programs, and staying current with the Painesville Police Department's crime alerts. Families who engage with the community and choose their specific block carefully can find Painesville livable, but the 22.3% poverty rate and D grade are real considerations that should factor into any relocation decision.

What types of crime are most common in Painesville?

Property crime dominates Painesville's incident reports, which aligns with the city's economic profile — a 22.3% poverty rate and median household income of $47,259 create conditions where theft, motor vehicle theft, and burglary are the most frequently logged offenses. Vandalism and disorderly conduct calls are also recurring entries on the crime map, particularly in higher-density residential corridors where the population density of 1,121 per square mile concentrates activity. Violent crimes — including assault — are reported at lower absolute numbers but are geographically concentrated, meaning certain streets and neighborhoods see disproportionately more incidents than others. Using the crime map's category filters to isolate violent versus property crime by neighborhood gives the clearest picture of localized risk.