Ohio’s safest cities in 2026 aren’t where most people would guess. According to SafeWise’s 2026 analysis of FBI crime data, the state’s safest city is Broadview Heights — a quiet suburb south of Cleveland with roughly 19,700 residents, a violent crime rate of just 0.1 per 1,000 people, and, remarkably, zero aggravated assaults and zero robberies reported.
The pattern repeats across the entire ranking: Cleveland’s orbit dominates the list, with 80% of Ohio’s safest cities sitting in the city’s suburbs. One standout — Trenton — climbed an astonishing 32 spots in a single year after violent crime fell 40% and property crime plunged 67%. Across all ten of the safest cities, only one murder was reported. If you’re thinking of moving to Ohio, these are the places the data says to look at first.
TL;DR: Broadview Heights is Ohio’s safest city for 2026, with a violent crime rate of 0.1 per 1,000 residents and no reported aggravated assaults or robberies, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data. Cleveland’s suburbs claim 80% of the state’s ten safest cities, and Trenton made the biggest leap — up 32 spots — after cutting violent crime by 40%. Only a single murder was reported across all ten cities.
The 10 Safest Cities in Ohio (2026)
SafeWise’s 2026 list draws on FBI-reported crime statistics, ranking Ohio’s safest cities by their violent crime rates, expressed below per 100,000 residents (figures compiled from Local Observer Daily’s breakdown of the data):
- Broadview Heights — 10 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Rocky River — 15 per 100,000
- North Ridgeville — 38 per 100,000
- North Royalton — 43 per 100,000
- Brunswick — 49 per 100,000
- Solon — 31 per 100,000
- Mason — 30 per 100,000
- Hudson — 23 per 100,000
- Sylvania — 57 per 100,000
- Twinsburg — 85 per 100,000
To put that in perspective: a rate of 10 per 100,000 means roughly one violent crime per 10,000 residents over a year.
Why Cleveland’s Suburbs Dominate
The geography of the ranking is striking. According to the SafeWise analysis, 80% of Ohio’s safest cities are Cleveland suburbs; only Genoa Township and Trenton sit elsewhere. Places like Rocky River, North Royalton, Brunswick, Solon, Hudson, and Twinsburg form a ring of low-crime communities around the city — a pattern driven by a mix of strong local policing, engaged communities, and relatively high homeownership rates that keep neighborhoods stable.
If you’re weighing the Cleveland area specifically, our guide to the best neighborhoods in Cleveland for 2026 breaks down where to look inside the city itself. But the data is clear that the suburbs outside it offer some of the lowest violent crime rates in the entire Midwest.
How SafeWise Builds the Ranking (Methodology)
SafeWise’s 2026 safest-cities analysis is built on FBI-reported crime data, focusing on violent crime — murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and rape — measured per capita so small suburbs can be compared fairly with larger cities. The ranking primarily weights the violent crime rate, which is why cities with essentially zero violent incidents rise to the top.
The ranking measures reported crimes compiled by the FBI, standardized into rates — so the analysis also highlights context like Trenton’s 40% drop in violent crime and 67% drop in property crime, which lifted it 32 spots.
What This Means If You’re Moving to Ohio
For relocators, the takeaway is straightforward: Ohio offers some of the safest suburban living in the country, particularly around Cleveland, while remaining far more affordable than coastal metros. Safety rankings are one input among many — visit neighborhoods and weigh commutes before committing, and remember crime rates describe the past. But as a starting screen for Ohio house-hunting, this list is as data-backed as it gets.
FAQ
What is the safest city in Ohio in 2026?
Broadview Heights is Ohio’s safest city for 2026, according to SafeWise’s analysis of FBI crime data. The suburb of roughly 19,700 residents has a violent crime rate of just 0.1 per 1,000 people, with zero aggravated assaults and zero robberies reported.
How does SafeWise determine the safest cities in Ohio?
SafeWise’s 2026 analysis uses FBI-reported crime data, ranking Ohio cities primarily by their violent crime rate per capita — covering murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and rape — so communities of different sizes can be compared fairly.
Are Cleveland’s suburbs really safer than the city of Cleveland?
By the numbers, yes: 80% of Ohio’s ten safest cities are Cleveland suburbs, including Broadview Heights, Rocky River, North Royalton, Brunswick, and Solon. Cleveland itself does not appear on the safest-cities list.
Which Ohio city improved the most in the 2026 ranking?
Trenton climbed 32 spots in SafeWise’s 2026 ranking after violent crime fell 40% and property crime dropped 67% — the biggest single-year improvement among Ohio’s safest cities.
How many murders were reported in Ohio’s 10 safest cities?
Just one. Across all ten of Ohio’s safest cities in the 2026 SafeWise analysis, a single murder was reported — in Olmsted Township.
What is the violent crime rate in Rocky River, Ohio?
Rocky River, Ohio’s second-safest city in 2026, has a violent crime rate of 15 per 100,000 residents, according to the FBI-based data compiled by SafeWise.
Is Ohio a safe state to move to in 2026?
Ohio’s safest suburbs rank among the lowest-crime communities in the Midwest, with rates like Broadview Heights’ 0.1 per 1,000 residents. As with any move, pair the state-level picture with neighborhood-level research and a visit before deciding.
Where does the data for Ohio’s safest cities come from?
The 2026 ranking comes from SafeWise’s analysis of FBI crime data, with per-capita rate figures compiled and published by Local Observer Daily and the full list on SafeWise’s Ohio safest cities page.
