Columbus had less violent crime than some small Ohio towns in 2024
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Columbus' violent crime rate was the lowest among Ohio's large urban cities in 2024, and lower than several small communities, according to an Axios analysis of FBI data.
Why it matters: Crime — and people's perception of it — remains a nationwide political lightning rod as President Trump continues his push to send the National Guard to large, Democrat-controlled cities over violence concerns.
Yes, but: A closer look at the data shows that places where crime gets the most attention aren't always the most violent.
- Rural states in the South and West had some of the nation's highest violent crime and homicide rates last year, driven by violence in small communities.
- And in general, U.S. crime has been declining following a pandemic peak.
Case in point: Vice President JD Vance said people were scared to visit downtown Columbus, Canton and Akron this summer because "local authorities in these big cities have allowed lawlessness to run wild."
Reality check: Ohio's highest reported 2024 violent crime rate was in Elmwood Place, a suburban Cincinnati village of 2,000 people about 25 miles south of Vance's hometown of Middletown.
- Nearby Lockland, population 3,500, also had more violent crime per capita than Columbus, Canton or Akron.
Context: Columbus' violent crime rate (434.9 per 100,000 people) was lower than those in Lima, Portsmouth or Piqua, small cities far from urban cores, and in two local suburbs, Whitehall and Reynoldsburg.
- But it was still higher than the statewide and national average (308.3 and 359.1, respectively).
The other side: The violent crime rates of Ohio's large urban cities do rank high statewide out of 340 total communities. Columbus is No. 31.
- Cleveland (1,561.1 per 100,000 people) is No. 2 statewide and No. 78 nationally.
- Republican Rep. Max Miller of Northeast Ohio recently called for Gov. Mike DeWine to deploy the Ohio National Guard there — something DeWine says he won't do.
What we're watching: Where Trump's crime crackdown heads after Memphis. He's suggested Chicago, New Orleans or St. Louis could be next.