The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Otsego County, MI: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Otsego County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Otsego County.

 

Otsego County, MI Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

B+

Overall Crime Grade™

C+
B
Other Crime Grade
A

$9.80 million

Cost of Crime™ for Otsego County, MI

In 2025, crime will cost $869 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Otsego County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Otsego County, MI Safe?

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Otsego County ranks in the 75th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 75% of counties but less safe than 25%. This analysis applies only to Otsego County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Otsego County is 22.50 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Otsego County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Otsego County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 39 in the central areas to 1 in 59 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Otsego County, MI see the most incidents - about 191 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 19 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Otsego County, MI

The total projected cost of crime in Otsego County for 2025 is $9,798,033. This translates to approximately $379 per resident and $869 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.0% of the median household income in Otsego County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 54.5%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.9%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.5%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Otsego County Compared to Other Counties?

Otsego County, MI: $379
Wayne County, MI: $853
Ottawa County, MI: $197
Michigan: $487
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Otsego County is $379 per year, which is $86 less than the national average and $108 less than Michigan's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Otsego County:
  • In Wayne County, MI, crime costs $853 per person, which is $475 more than in Otsego County.
  • In Ottawa County, MI, crime costs $197 per person, which is $181 less than in Otsego County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Otsego County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Otsego County
Cost per Otsego County Resident
Murder
$2.90 million
$112
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.56 million
$60
Robbery
$359,296
$14
Assault
$1.47 million
$57
Kidnapping
$109,070
$4
Vehicle Theft
$484,797
$19
Burglary
$432,234
$17
Theft
$1.40 million
$54
Arson
$76,621
$3
Vandalism
$552,937
$21
Animal Cruelty
$13,204
$1
Drug Crimes
$315,673
$12
Identity Theft
$133,544
$5
Total Cost of Crime
$9,798,033
$379

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Otsego County, MI

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Otsego County totals $27,234,690 ($1,053 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $37,032,722 ($1,431 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Otsego County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Otsego County has 9, have the same problem. Of Otsego County’s 25,875 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Otsego County, MI at ISP Reports.

Otsego County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Otsego County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.976
Robbery
0.4415
Rape
0.9913
Murder
0.0597
Total Violent Crime
3.468 (C+)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
10.41
Vehicle Theft
1.210
Burglary
1.842
Arson
0.1226
Total Property Crime
13.59 (B)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0695
Drug Crimes
1.649
Vandalism
2.991
Identity Theft
0.6668
Animal Cruelty
0.0690
Total "Other" Rate
5.446 (A)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Otsego County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Otsego County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A
B-
A
A+
B-
A+
B+
C+
B
A-
C+
A-
A
B-
A+
A-
C+
A-
B
D
B+
B+
C+
B+
A-
C+
A-
A-
B
B+

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Otsego County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A-
A+
A+
B
A
A
C
A-
A-
A-
B+
B+
A+
A+
A+
D+
C-
C-
C
C-
C-
B
B-
B-
B+
A
A
A
B
B

Considering only the crime rate, Otsego County is safer than the Michigan state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Otsego County, MI average SchoolGrade of C-, with 34% actual proficiency versus 32% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Otsego County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

Crime By Zip Code Download

Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.

Download CSV

 

Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 15 hours 2 minutes in Otsego County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Otsego County, MI

All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.