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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Carbondale, IL has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,689.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,837 of 2,971 US cities and #181 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Carbondale, Illinois Safe?
Nestled in Southern Illinois, Carbondale is a university town, home to Southern Illinois University. Its early development was tied to the Illinois Central Railroad, and it's surrounded by Shawnee National Forest. The population is diverse, with a significant student presence.
Carbondale has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,689.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Carbondale ranks #181 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #2837 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Carbondale is rape, at 237.3 per 100K — 5.5x the national average.
Year over year, Carbondale's total crime rate increased by 14.5%, with violent crime rising 29.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Carbondale Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 216 | 1,004.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 51 | 237.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 24 | 111.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 139 | 646.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 792 | 3,684.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 235 | 1,093.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 482 | 2,242.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 75 | 348.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Carbondale vs Illinois Average
How does Carbondale's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Carbondale | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,004.9 | 356.4 | +182.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,684.8 | 2,126.5 | +73.3% |
| Murder Rate | 9.3 | 7.9 | +18.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,689.7 | 2,482.9 | +88.9% |
Carbondale Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Carbondale, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,494 | 4,689.7 | 1,004.9 | 3,684.8 |
| 2023 | 21,659 | 4,095.3 | 775.7 | 3,319.6 |
| 2022 | 21,612 | 3,942.3 | 786.6 | 3,155.7 |
| 2020 | 24,933 | 4,383.8 | 954.6 | 3,429.2 |
| 2019 | 25,242 | 4,516.3 | 824.0 | 3,692.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carbondale, Illinois safe?
Carbondale has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,689.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Carbondale is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Carbondale, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Carbondale has a violent crime rate of 1,004.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,684.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Carbondale compare to the national average?
Carbondale's total crime rate of 4,689.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,494 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Carbondale?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Carbondale include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Carbondale safe to visit?
Like any city, Carbondale has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.