The 15 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Cleveland: 2022's Ultimate List

The Drew Carey Show might have made Cleveland out to be a cool place to live, but that’s not always true. Cleveland is a city that has regularly made news headlines for its perennial struggles with crime. Whether it’s from rioting due to civil unrest, the high murder rates, or even something along the lines of white-collar crime, Clevland rightfully earned its reputation for being one of the most dangerous cities in Ohio.

Based on FBI statistics, Industrial Valley, North Broadway, Kinsmith, The Stockyard, and Central are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Cleveland. These neighborhoods rank highest consistently on a per capita basis in both violent and property crimes, with between 41 – 60% higher crime occurrences than all of Ohio. Other areas to avoid include Woodland Hills, Fairfax, and Union Miles Park.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that Cleveland is a fairly “hit or miss” type of city. If you want to have an amazing experience in this town, it’s a smart idea to stick to the safer areas inside the city’s limits. This guide will help you learn about the worst neighborhoods to avoid, and why you want to avoid them.

Industrial Valley managed to reach the nadir when it comes to the quality of life, and most of the blame for that could be ascribed to the crime rates this area faces. The property crime rate is out of control here, with burglaries, arson, and car thefts being more frequently reported than in any other neighborhood. Yikes, am I right?

Living in Industrial Valley means that you are in one of the most crime-ridden parts of the entire United States of America. Of course, that’s not all this place is known for. An 11 percent pre-COVID unemployment rate certainly left people in dire need of money, as did some of the most terrible schools in Cleveland.

If you were looking for a place with cheap property and don’t mind taking your life into your own hands, then you might be a good match for Industrial Valley. After all, the average house here is only worth $10,000 or so. So, the land and house are actually worth less than the materials used to make the dwelling.

This neighborhood had a total of 9,164 reported cases of crime during the 2020 calendar year. This included everything from violent crimes to property crimes. According to the FBI statistics, there were 2,651 violent crimes and 6,513 property crimes.

Right near the center of Cleveland lies one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city…North Broadway. This derelict part of town is home to over 5,000 people who all seem to be struggling with the economic turmoil that comes with living in a rough place.

If you live within this neighborhood’s limits, you are five times more likely to be struck by a violent crime than in a typical American suburb.

According to FBI statistics, there were a total of 8,530 reported crimes in the 2020 calendar year. These crimes included everything from murder to property theft.

However, property crimes surpassed the number of violent crimes. There were a total of 2,468 violent crimes reported, and 6,063 property crimes per capita. For a population of 5,296, those are very high numbers.

Kinsmith is regularly considered to be one of the worst places to live in Cleveland, if not the worst for any particular year. It’s just hard to figure out where to start with this neighborhood. Do we talk about how a typical household only earns $13,567 per year here? Or, should we talk about the way that you have a 1 in 11 chance of experiencing a serious crime?

Or is it the schools that we should talk about? Kinsmith’s schooling system is considered to be one of the bottom-performing in the state. Among people who live in the city, it’s just assumed that no one in their right mind would go to this neighborhood unless they absolutely have to.

In 2020, there have been a total of 8,243 crimes reported in Kinsmith. Murder and rape, as well as burglary and property theft, were among the crimes committed.

During this time, property crimes outnumbered violent crimes. There were 5,858 property offenses and 2,384 violent crimes reported per capita.

Can this even be called a “neighborhood?” It’s hard to say. The Stockyards were once where local unions stocked their supplies, and while a fire might have changed the scenery a bit, it’s impossible to deny the deep industrial vibes that the Stockyards offers up. Today, it has a fair amount of residential areas—but it still retains the crime rates of old school Cleveland.

The Stockyards are known for being a gang activity hotspot. It’s so bad, many police officers try to avoid the neighborhood unless they are specifically called out to the region. Should you find yourself in this area, keep an eye out and try to carry pepper spray. It’s not the type of place you should venture into alone.

With a population of 7,306, the Stockyards had 8,055 reported crimes total for the 2020 calendar year. This includes murder, rape, assault, property theft, and auto theft.

There were fewer violent crimes than property crimes around its time. Violent crimes made up 2,330 of the total, while property crimes were recorded as 5,725 per capita.

There are certain neighborhoods in Cleveland that are considered to be “no go” zones, even during the day. Central is one of those places.

Located near Woodland and East 55th Street, Central is more or less a war zone rather than a neighborhood in most senses of the word. This area has violent crime statistics that rival legitimate war zones—even when times don’t involve civil unrest.

If you’re new to town and decide to drive through Central, you might hear people telling you to lock your doors. They aren’t joking. With one out of four residents in the area out of work prior to the COVID-19 crisis, you shouldn’t be surprised if their desperation to make ends meet could get out of control.

In 2020 there were a total of 8,103 reported crimes. These included everything from murder and rape to car theft and burglary. Of this total, there were 2.344 violent crimes, and 5,759 property crimes reported per capita.

It’s worth noting that we’re now at the point where the Cleveland neighborhoods you’re reading about are getting close to having a general crime rate that is 2.5 times the national average. In Woodland Hills, the violent crime rate is a full 475 percent higher than a typical American neighborhood.

Living in Woodland Hills means that you have a 1 in 12 chance of having a crime happen to you every year. The good news about living here? Property values are dirt cheap, with a medium home being priced at only $29,000. Considering that the unemployment was a worrisome 16 percent prior to COVID-19, it’s safe to say that foreclosures were still fairly common here.

FBI statistics show that there were a total of 8,013 crimes for Woodland Hills reported in the 2020 calendar year. These crimes included everything from murder to auto theft.

Of the total, there were 2,318 violent crimes and 5,695 property crimes. While these numbers may seem insignificant, when comparing them to a population of 7,509, the crime rate is pretty extreme.

In most towns, the name “Fairfax” tends to be associated with a certain level of wealth. This isn’t the case in Cleveland. This neighborhood regularly gets voted as one of the worst neighborhoods in Cleveland as a result of the extreme urban blight that took hold of the region. Vacant houses, rampant drug use, and alarmingly high unemployment rates are the norm.

As a result of the many different factors that are involved with the low quality of life, Fairfax also has a terrible crime problem. When adjusted for the population size, the total crime rate is a whopping 8,870 per 100,000 people. Around a third of all Fairfax students will graduate high school, making this neighborhood a vicious cycle of awfulness.

In Fairfax, there have been a total of 7,995 crimes reported for the 2020 calendar year. These crimes include murder, assault, rape, car theft, burglary, and other property-based incidents.

Furthermore, property crime outnumbers violent crime by quite a bit. There were 2,313 violent crimes and 5,682 property crimes. This all occurred within a population of 4,530.

Some parts of Cleveland are lush and filled with up-and-coming professionals, but Union Miles Park is not one of those places. Ravaged by poverty, a downright foul school system, and serious unemployment rates, this neighborhood has a long way to go before most people would consider it to be a nice place to live.

Property crimes ranging from theft to fraud are a daily occurrence if you live in Union Miles Park. Violent crimes like assaults, robberies, and shootings are a normal part of life here. No wonder why everyone in this neighborhood tries to leave for greener pastures.

Overall, there have been a total of 3,521 crimes in 2020 in Union Miles Park. These crimes included both violent and property crimes alike.

There were more property crimes than violent crimes in 2020. A total of 5,467 property crimes were reported, while there were 2,225 violent crimes. However, in a population of 9,750, this is a very high crime rate.

Saint Claire-Superior might only be a small patch of land, but it has a lot of problems within its borders. The biggest issues that make it unlivable for most people involve its sky-high crime rates and gang activity. The violent crime rate is almost four and a half times the national average here, which means that you really aren’t safe at any time of the day here.

A large portion of the problems here probably stems from the shockingly low household income of $21,000 and its high pre-COVID unemployment rates of 13.1 percent. After all, they do say that desperation and crime tend to go hand in hand. If you move to this neighborhood, we hope you have a job lined up and a security system in place.

In 2020, there have been a total of 7,386 crimes reported in Saint-Claire Superior. Murder and rape, as well as burglary and property theft, were among the crimes committed.

During this time, property crimes outnumbered violent crimes. There were 5,249 property offenses and 2,136 violent crimes reported per capita.

The crime rate is slightly higher than the national average. East Cleveland is in the 39th percentile for safety, which means that 61% of metro regions are safer while 39% are more hazardous.

Only the proper limits of the Cleveland metro region are included in this research. In the Cleveland metro region, your chances of becoming a victim of crime are as high as 1 in 19 in the north neighborhoods and as low as 1 in 71 in the east.

FBI statistics show that there were a total of 2,741 crimes for this neighborhood reported in the 2020 calendar year. These crimes included everything from murder to auto theft.

Of the total, there were 571 violent crimes and 2,170 property crimes. While these numbers may seem insignificant, when comparing them to a population of 17,413, the crime rate is still up there.

Clark Fulton is a neighborhood that looks scary, but don’t worry. That’s not false advertising. It is a pretty terrifying place to be, especially at night. This is because it has a crime rate that is higher than many of the most dangerous cities in other parts of the state. The violent crime rate here stands at 2,106 per 100,000 people.

Despite having a violent crime rate that’s well over four times the national average, Clark Fulton is currently facing struggles involving gentrification efforts. As a result, many people are concerned that they may see a blowback from locals. Whether it’ll be an “up and comer” or a disaster in the making remains to be seen.

With a population of 10,461, Clark Fulton had 7,195 reported crimes total for the 2020 calendar year. This includes murder, rape, assault, property theft, and auto theft.

There were fewer violent crimes than property crimes around its time. Violent crimes made up 2,081 of the total, while property crimes were recorded as 5,114 per capita.

Hough is a Cleveland neighborhood on the east side of the city, located along the midtown corridor. Incorporated within the city of Cleveland in 1873, the suburb quickly became known for its rich citizens.

Following WWI, rich inhabitants moved further afield, enormous homes were divided into apartments, and Hough was transformed into a white working-class neighborhood. Eventually, the neighborhood went downhill, and rime began to move in.

In Hough, there have been a total of 6,344 crimes reported for the 2020 calendar year. These crimes include murder, assault, rape, car theft, burglary, and other property-based incidents.

Furthermore, property crime outnumbers violent crime by quite a bit. There were 1,835 violent crimes and 4,509 property crimes. This all occurred within a population of 12,978.

Wade Park is a park in Cleveland, Ohio’s University Circle area. Wade Park now houses the Cleveland Museum of Art, as well as Wade Lagoon, which is located on the park’s south end and faces the Museum of Art.

Despite not being a historical site in and of itself, the park is located within the Wade Park historical district and acts as a backdrop for the majority of the district’s registered structures. This area is beautiful, but it’s also packed full of crime.

Overall, there have been a total of 2,583 crimes in 2020 in Wade Park. These crimes included both violent and property crimes alike.

There were more property crimes than violent crimes in 2020. A total of 1,835 property crimes were reported, while there were only 747 violent crimes. However, in a population of 7,940, this is a very high crime rate.

The “Big Italy” neighborhood in Cleveland was defined by the Woodland Avenue/Central Market area. For Italian and Sicilian immigrants, it was an older and considerably larger residence. After WWII, this region began to deteriorate, and by the 1960s, it had been largely devastated by approaching freeways and urban regeneration.

Eventually, crime began to creep in due to the location, welcoming criminals and transients. While this neighborhood isn’t too dangerous, it does have its fair share of property crime.

According to FBI statistics, there were a total of 8,578 reported crimes in the 2020 calendar year. These crimes included everything from murder to property theft.

However, property crimes surpassed the number of violent crimes. There were 928 violent crimes reported and 7,650 property crimes per capita. For a population of 22,899, those numbers are still indicative of crime.

The Flats, from the mouth to the Oxbow curve, had the biggest concentration of bars in the Midwest during its zenith in the early 1990s, with locally owned pubs, nightclubs, and national restaurant chains covering both banks of the river. The Flats and Cleveland have quickly established as regional entertainment hotspots and attractions.

To aid in the redevelopment of the Flats, the Flats Oxbow Association was founded, and housing development quickly followed on both sides of the river, with new buildings and warehouses being turned into condominiums and apartments.

The Flats’ heyday as a nightlife attraction in the twentieth century was brief. Many bars were forced to close as a result of three drowning deaths in one month in 2000, as well as a city crackdown on fire and health code infractions. Customers were scared away due to safety concerns, resulting in a significant drop in business.

In 2020 there were a total of 2,423 reported crimes. These included everything from murder and rape to car theft and burglary. Of this total, 701 violent crimes and 1,722 property crimes were reported per capita.