Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Chicago, IL has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,707 of 2,957 US cities and #179 of 183 in Illinois.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Chicago, IL?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chicago, Illinois Safe?
Chicago, Illinois, a major Midwest hub and birthplace of the skyscraper, sits on Lake Michigan's shores. Its diverse population of over 2.7 million people contributes to its vibrant arts and culture scene.
Chicago has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Chicago ranks #179 out of 183 cities in Illinois and #2707 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chicago is robbery, at 335.3 per 100K — 3.6x the national average. Conversely, aggravated assault is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Chicago's total crime rate decreased by 0.7%, with violent crime declining 11%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chicago Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 14,245 | 539.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 461 | 17.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 1,551 | 58.8 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 8,847 | 335.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,386 | 128.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 91,626 | 3,472.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 7,778 | 294.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 61,185 | 2,318.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 22,663 | 858.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chicago vs Illinois Average
How does Chicago's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 539.9 | 356.9 | +51.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,472.4 | 2,129.2 | +63.1% |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 7.9 | +121.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,012.2 | 2,486.1 | +61.4% |
Chicago Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chicago, Illinois.
Between 2019 and 2024, Chicago's total crime rate is roughly flat (3,926 → 4,012 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 43% and property crime up 16% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2023 at 4,039 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,638,698 | 4,012.2 | 539.9 | 3,472.4 |
| 2023 | 2,628,298 | 4,038.7 | 606.8 | 3,431.9 |
| 2022 | 2,652,124 | 3,672.9 | 540.0 | 3,133.0 |
| 2021 | 2,721,948 | 1,401.0 | 285.4 | 1,115.5 |
| 2020 | 2,693,598 | 3,197.0 | 986.9 | 2,210.1 |
| 2019 | 2,707,064 | 3,925.8 | 943.2 | 2,982.6 |
Chicago Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Chicago 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 Chicago, Illinois safe?
Chicago has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chicago is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chicago, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,472.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chicago compare to the national average?
Chicago's total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 2,638,698 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chicago?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chicago are larceny-theft (61,185 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (22,663 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.4x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Chicago in 2024?
461 murders were reported to the FBI for Chicago in 2024 — a homicide rate of 17.5 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Chicago going up or down?
Chicago's total crime rate is roughly flat: 2% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (4,012 vs 3,926 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Chicago safe to visit?
Like any city, Chicago has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.