Wooster, OH Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Wooster, OH

Is Wooster, OH safe?

Wooster earns an overall crime grade of B+, which places it among the safer small cities in Ohio. That grade reflects a crime profile meaningfully better than the national average for communities of similar size. Property crimes — things like theft and vehicle break-ins — account for the large majority of reported incidents, while violent crime remains a relatively small share of the overall picture. Neighborhoods near the College of Wooster, including the East Wayne Street corridor and Oak Hill, tend to see the lowest incident densities, partly because of active campus security and strong community engagement. Downtown and areas closer to high-traffic commercial corridors see slightly higher property crime activity, which is typical for retail-heavy zones in any city. For context, Wooster's 5.2% unemployment rate and median household income of $52,366 are both consistent with communities that sustain moderate-to-low crime environments.

What is the crime rate in Wooster, OH?

Wooster's crime profile earns a B+ letter grade overall, indicating that the city performs better than a majority of U.S. cities of comparable population (roughly 26,557 residents). Property crime is the dominant category, as it is in most American cities, and represents the bulk of incidents plotted on the Wooster crime map. Violent crime — including assault and robbery — makes up a significantly smaller percentage of total incidents and occurs at rates below many Ohio peer cities. The city's poverty rate of 13.1% is a watch metric that local officials track, since economic stress can correlate with opportunistic property crime; however, Wooster's community programs and active policing have helped keep the overall grade solidly in the B+ range. Checking the live crime map regularly gives the most current percentage breakdown by incident type for any given month.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Wooster, OH?

Based on incident density patterns visible on the Wooster crime map, several areas consistently show lower crime activity. The neighborhoods surrounding the College of Wooster campus — including Oak Hill and the East Wayne Street area — benefit from campus security resources and high residential engagement, contributing to lower reported incident rates. West Hill and the suburban corridors near Wooster High School are frequently cited by residents as family-friendly zones with fewer property crime incidents relative to the city average. In contrast, areas closer to the central commercial district and higher-density rental corridors (where median rent runs around $766/month) tend to see a higher share of theft and vandalism reports, which is a common pattern in mixed-use urban zones. The B+ overall grade suggests that even the more active areas of Wooster are manageable compared to larger Ohio cities.

Is Wooster, OH a good place to live?

By most measurable indicators, Wooster scores well as a place to live. The city's B+ crime grade is perhaps the most direct safety signal, but the supporting data reinforces that picture: a median home value of $146,530 keeps homeownership accessible, median rent of $766 is well below the national average, and a 5.2% unemployment rate reflects a reasonably active local economy. The poverty rate of 13.1% is worth noting — it is slightly above the Ohio median — but local nonprofits, the College of Wooster's community outreach, and city assistance programs help offset economic pressure on vulnerable households. With a population density of just 600 people per square mile, Wooster has a genuinely uncrowded feel that contributes to lower ambient crime risk. Families, retirees, and students consistently rank the city's walkable downtown, historic character, and community events as quality-of-life strengths that complement its solid safety record.