Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Alton, IL has a Safety Score of 11/100 — higher crime than 89% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,639.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,631 of 2,971 US cities and #177 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Alton, Illinois Safe?
Alton, Illinois, a river town on the Mississippi, is known for its limestone bluffs and as the site of the final Lincoln-Douglas debate. Located just north of St. Louis, it has a population of around 25,000.
Alton has a safety score of 11/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,639.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Alton ranks #177 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #2631 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 11th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 89% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Alton is burglary, at 943.2 per 100K — 3.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Alton's total crime rate decreased by 9.3%, with violent crime rising 3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Alton Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 241 | 971.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 12.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 34 | 137.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 29 | 116.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 173 | 697.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 662 | 2,668.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 234 | 943.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 369 | 1,487.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 59 | 237.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Alton vs Illinois Average
How does Alton's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Alton | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 971.4 | 356.4 | +172.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,668.4 | 2,126.5 | +25.5% |
| Murder Rate | 12.1 | 7.9 | +53.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,639.8 | 2,482.9 | +46.6% |
Alton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Alton, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,809 | 3,639.8 | 971.4 | 2,668.4 |
| 2023 | 25,025 | 4,012.0 | 943.1 | 3,068.9 |
| 2022 | 25,212 | 4,045.7 | 920.2 | 3,125.5 |
| 2021 | 25,871 | 3,695.3 | 556.6 | 3,138.7 |
| 2020 | 26,027 | 4,195.6 | 829.9 | 3,365.7 |
| 2019 | 26,360 | 5,193.5 | 1,016.7 | 4,176.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alton, Illinois safe?
Alton has a safety score of 11/100, meaning it has less crime than about 11% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,639.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Alton is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Alton, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Alton has a violent crime rate of 971.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,668.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Alton compare to the national average?
Alton's total crime rate of 3,639.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,809 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Alton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Alton include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Alton safe to visit?
Like any city, Alton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 11/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.