This Is the Most Dangerous City in Ohio

Every year, the FBI pulls data across America to determine a list of the most dangerous cities in America. Based on evidence from 10,000 per capita stats of “offenses known to law enforcement,” the agency informs the public of which cities are the most dangerous in each state.

While Ohio as a state remains slightly below the national average, not every city in the Buckeye State is immune to crime. While some would believe that one of Ohio’s biggest cities, Columbus or Cleveland, would be the most dangerous city in the state, that’s not true. The eighth-biggest city, Canton, ranks as the most dangerous city in Ohio.

Keep reading to learn more about Canton, some factors attributing to the city’s crime rate, and what it’s like to live in the most dangerous city in Ohio.

History of Canton, Ohio

Canton has a sleepy start and an interesting past that creates the town as it is today. As a hub of politics, industry, and sports, Canton has its hands in a fair share of markets which makes it a diverse town.

Founding

The very first settlers of Canton founded the town in 1805 as a small village. Bezaleel Wells drew the map of the town in nearby New Lisbon; the map, or “plat” came in handy years later when town leaders wanted to incorporate. Wells is credited with naming the town, though the origin of “Canton” has two distinct roots.

Some believe Wells named the town after an Irish merchant he admired: John O’Donnell. Captain O’Donnell had previously named his estate in Maryland after the Chinese city of Guangzhou, which has the common English translation of Canton. Others believe Wells, a devout Episcopalian, used the Huguenot definition of the word “canton” (“a division of districts with a handful of communes”) as inspiration and named the town as so.

While it garnered incorporation in 1822 as a village, Canton began to grow and had to be re-incorporated as a city just 16 years later in 1838. Thanks to Wells’ consistent promotion and efforts to grow the town, Canton quickly became a destination and key player in local politics. In 1809, when Canton divided from Columbiana County to Stark County, it was designated the county seat.

Role in Politics

Did you know William McKinley lived in Canton only a few decades after the town was reincorporated into a city? While he was born in nearby Niles, Ohio, McKinley traveled to Canton in the mid-1860s to practice law. After working on his own for two years, McKinley began prosecuting as an attorney for Stark County in 1869. He conducted his successful campaign for Ohio governor from Canton, too.

Today, both a national library and museum and a national memorial stand in Canton in McKinley’s honor.

About 200 years later, Eugene Debs visited Canton in 1918 to give an important political address that had lasting effects. 

On June 16, Debs delivered the keynote speech for Canton’s annual Ohio Socialist Convention. His speech included anti-war topics — specifically speaking out against the draft. Unfortunately for Debs, several agents of the U.S. Department of Justice sat in the crowd listening. Barely a year before, President Wilson had signed into law the Espionage Act of 1917 which made interfering with the military draft a federal crime. Fourteen days after his speech in Canton, agents arrested Debs and charged him with attempts to incite mutiny or refusal of duty for the military and naval forces of the United States. 

The City of Canton marked the watershed moment of the justice system with a marker from Ohio History Connection that now stands at Nimisilla Park — where Debs delivered the speech.

Industrialization

Since the 1920s, Canton has played host to major companies that have helped the town and its residents flourish. These companies include the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company and Timken Company.

The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company started as two separate companies that shared a factory in Canton from 1886 to 1923 before formally joining. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, these two companies remained the top employers of Canton residents. Unfortunately, only seven years after conjoining the companies, the organization went out of business and ceased operations. 

Contrarily, the Timken Company has been a strong and reliable employer for the last 100 years in Canton. In 2014, the company split in two: one side makes roller bearings that made the organization famous in the late 1800s while the other side produces steel. As of recent data, TimkenSteel employs 2,800 people at its Canton headquarters. The other side of the business moved to a suburb of Canton and employs over 10,000 people in the town and around the world.

Crime Index

Unfortunately, residents of Canton have a high probability of encountering criminals or becoming a victim of a crime. 

Out of a scale of 100 on NeighborhoodScout.com, with 100 being the safest, Caton ranks an abysmal 1. It was recently named the most dangerous city in Ohio in 2023 thanks to the high rate of violent and property crimes in the state. Along with a few other Ohio cities, Canton ranks among the most dangerous cities in the nation.

Compared to the state as a whole, there are 14.5 violent crimes per 1000 residents compared to the state average of 3.4 and the national average of 4. That’s a staggering 326% increase over the state’s average for violent crimes. As outlined by the FBI, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. 

As for property crimes, Canton doesn’t fare better. According to data, Canton has around 51 property crimes committed per 1,000 people while Ohio and the national median hover around 19. While less of an increase, that’s still a nearly 170% increase in chances of becoming a victim of a property crime in Canton.

Finally, Canton reports 180 crimes per square mile of land, while the rest of Ohio reports 25, and the national median is 27. 

For its size, Canton has many more murders, rapes, and general crime activity than other cities its size. With one of the highest motor vehicle theft rates in the nation and such staggering data for violent and property crime, it’s no wonder Canton ranks as the most dangerous city in Ohio.

Poverty Rate

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 30.3% of Canton residents live in poverty. This compares to Ohio’s overall percentage of 14.3% at the last time of measurement (2021). Furthermore, the national average of poverty hovers around 11.6% according to the most recent data from 2021. 

The average income for houses in Canton ranks pretty low among the cities in Ohio and the United States. Measured in 2021 dollars, the median household income was $34,611. Over the last 12 months measured in 2021, respondents reported a per capita income of only $21,282. 

Average Wages

While the average per capita income in Canton was just over $21,000 in 2021, the average salary in Canton, Ohio as of July 2023 is nearly double that. According to ZipRecruiter, Canton residents make between $29,500 and $53,000 annually. 

The difference in wages and salaries varies widely depending on education level. Those with less than a ninth-grade education rarely make over $30,000 a year while Canton residents with either a Bachelor’s or graduate degree will average a salary of at least $41,000 or more per year. Interestingly, female salaries are less than males’ until they possess a graduate degree. At that point, females consistently have a higher salary than their male counterparts.

Other Factors Contributing to Crime

Unfortunately, the opioid crisis has found its way to Canton. Not just Canton, but all of Stark County. The region has consistently ranked as a “high burden county” to the CDC based on the number of overdoses from opioids. Opioids and other hard drugs aren’t the only reason Canton has high crime, though.

In many Canton neighborhoods, especially downtown, conditions of homes and lack of better-paying jobs have left communities derelict and with high crime and unemployment rates. Most notably, they keep families in a cycle of poverty. Residents blame the astronomically high poverty rate as the main detracting factor from their quality of life. This bleeds into the standard of living, economic activities, and crime rate.

The city of Canton, however, has created several initiatives and plans, like the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas Plan, that seek to decrease violent crime, increase homeownership, and strengthen the neighborhood’s economic corridors.

Living in Canton

What’s it like living in Canton?

For some residents, they don’t notice the crime. Living on the north side of Canton creates fond memories for a lot of current and past residents. Depending on your persuasion, you may either like or hate the amount that Canton has to do in the city limits.

It’s a primarily suburban place, with its downtown offering some of the amenities of a larger city while the rest of the area provides a small-town feel. Canton’s north side remains a pretty safe place to raise a family. It has parks, libraries, YMCA branches, and a reliable job market. Even the public schools rank well despite the resources the small town has.

The cost of living in Canton remains significantly lower than in the rest of the nation, which is helpful when buying a house in the best neighborhoods. However, crime continues to spread out from the city’s epicenter and threatens to taint the few safe neighborhoods left. 

Some residents warn transplants to the town to stay away from Tuscarawas Street and anything south of it. Others suggest moving to a suburb of Cleveland or Columbus for a better experience.

Other Dangerous Cities in Ohio

While Canton ranks as the most dangerous city in Ohio now, it has some close competition from other larger cities in the state.

Cleveland will often top the charts as Ohio’s most dangerous city based on other factors, like land size and differently calculated rates of crime.

Would You Live in the Most Dangerous City in Ohio?

While Canton has many things to do — including sightseeing, nightlife, and fine dining — the threat of crime looms over residents and visitors. Both violent and property crime rates have remained high for years, resulting in Canton’s 2023 first-place finish for dangerous cities in Ohio. 

However, if you’re a history buff interested in touring the sites of the city that played large roles in politics, or a sports fan who wants to experience the Football Hall of Fame, you may enjoy your stay in the most dangerous city in Ohio.