Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Dekalb, IL has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,907.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,347 of 2,971 US cities and #162 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Dekalb, Illinois Safe?
DeKalb, Illinois, home to Northern Illinois University, is a city in DeKalb County, about 65 miles west of Chicago. It's known as the "Barb City" due to Joseph Glidden's invention of barbed wire here. The population is diverse, with a significant student presence.
Dekalb has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,907.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Dekalb ranks #162 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #2347 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 21st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 79% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Dekalb is rape, at 151.7 per 100K — 3.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Dekalb's total crime rate decreased by 0.6%, with violent crime declining 8.6%.
Dekalb Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 158 | 393.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 61 | 151.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 14 | 34.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 83 | 206.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,011 | 2,514.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 136 | 338.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 854 | 2,124.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 21 | 52.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dekalb vs Illinois Average
How does Dekalb's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Dekalb | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 393.0 | 356.4 | +10.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,514.4 | 2,126.5 | +18.2% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,907.4 | 2,482.9 | +17.1% |
Dekalb Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Dekalb, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 40,208 | 2,907.4 | 393.0 | 2,514.4 |
| 2023 | 40,222 | 2,926.3 | 430.1 | 2,496.2 |
| 2022 | 40,555 | 3,134.0 | 549.9 | 2,584.1 |
| 2021 | 42,475 | 2,973.5 | 607.4 | 2,366.1 |
| 2020 | 42,710 | 3,722.8 | 590.0 | 3,132.8 |
| 2019 | 42,428 | 3,603.8 | 577.5 | 3,026.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dekalb, Illinois safe?
Dekalb has a safety score of 21/100, meaning it has less crime than about 21% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,907.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Dekalb is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Dekalb, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Dekalb has a violent crime rate of 393.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,514.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Dekalb compare to the national average?
Dekalb's total crime rate of 2,907.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 40,208 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Dekalb?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Dekalb include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Dekalb safe to visit?
Like any city, Dekalb has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 21/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.