Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Charleston, IL has a Safety Score of 36/100 — higher crime than 63% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,887 of 2,971 US cities and #139 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Charleston, Illinois Safe?
Home to Eastern Illinois University, Charleston is a Central Illinois city with a population around 17,000. It's known for its historic town square and as the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Charleston has a safety score of 36/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Charleston ranks #139 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #1887 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 37th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 63% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Charleston is rape, at 123.8 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Charleston's total crime rate increased by 42.3%, with violent crime rising 33.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Charleston Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 61 | 359.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 21 | 123.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 5.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 39 | 230.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 304 | 1,792.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 103 | 607.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 189 | 1,114.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 12 | 70.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charleston vs Illinois Average
How does Charleston's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Charleston | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 359.7 | 356.4 | +0.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,792.8 | 2,126.5 | -15.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,152.5 | 2,482.9 | -13.3% |
Charleston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Charleston, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,957 | 2,152.5 | 359.7 | 1,792.8 |
| 2023 | 17,058 | 1,512.5 | 269.7 | 1,242.8 |
| 2022 | 17,361 | 80.6 | 17.3 | 63.4 |
| 2019 | 19,987 | 575.4 | 155.1 | 420.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston, Illinois safe?
Charleston has a safety score of 36/100, meaning it has less crime than about 36% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Charleston is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Charleston, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Charleston has a violent crime rate of 359.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,792.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Charleston compare to the national average?
Charleston's total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,957 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Charleston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Charleston include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Charleston safe to visit?
Like any city, Charleston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 36/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.