Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Charleston, IL has a Safety Score of 37/100 — higher crime than 63% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,870 of 2,957 US cities and #138 of 183 in Illinois.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Charleston, IL?
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 37/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Charleston ranks #138 out of 183 cities in Illinois and #1870 out of 2957 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 — 2.8x 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 61 | 359.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 21 | 123.8 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 5.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 39 | 230.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 304 | 1,792.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 103 | 607.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 189 | 1,114.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 12 | 70.8 | 358.0 |
| 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 | 356.9 | +0.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,792.8 | 2,129.2 | -15.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,152.5 | 2,486.1 | -13.4% |
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 |
| 2019 | 19,987 | 575.4 | 155.1 | 420.3 |
Charleston Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Charleston and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Illinois crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston, Illinois safe?
Charleston has a safety score of 37/100, meaning it has less crime than about 37% 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 are larceny-theft (189 reported incidents) and burglary (103 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.0x in the city.
Is Charleston safe to visit?
Like any city, Charleston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 37/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.