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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Des Plaines, IL has a Safety Score of 65/100 — safer than 65% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,260.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,047 of 2,957 US cities and #101 of 183 in Illinois.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Des Plaines, IL?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Des Plaines, Illinois Safe?
Des Plaines, home to the first McDonald's restaurant, sits along the Des Plaines River in Cook County. This suburban city, with a population around 58,000, is a diverse community northwest of Chicago.
Des Plaines has a safety score of 65/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,260.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Des Plaines ranks #101 out of 183 cities in Illinois and #1047 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 65th percentile for safety — safer than 65% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Des Plaines is burglary, at 417.7 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Des Plaines's total crime rate increased by 26.6%, with violent crime declining 9.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Des Plaines Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 69 | 120.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 11 | 19.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 14 | 24.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 44 | 76.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 652 | 1,139.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 239 | 417.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 344 | 601.2 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 69 | 120.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Des Plaines vs Illinois Average
How does Des Plaines's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Des Plaines | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 120.6 | 356.9 | -66.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,139.5 | 2,129.2 | -46.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,260.1 | 2,486.1 | -49.3% |
Des Plaines Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Des Plaines, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57,218 | 1,260.1 | 120.6 | 1,139.5 |
| 2023 | 57,672 | 995.3 | 133.5 | 861.8 |
| 2022 | 58,425 | 1,367.6 | 130.1 | 1,237.5 |
| 2021 | 58,166 | 1,196.6 | 134.1 | 1,062.5 |
| 2020 | 58,950 | 1,134.9 | 72.9 | 1,061.9 |
| 2019 | 59,023 | 1,196.1 | 94.9 | 1,101.3 |
Des Plaines Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines, Illinois safe?
Des Plaines has a safety score of 65/100, meaning it has less crime than about 65% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,260.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Des Plaines is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Des Plaines, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Des Plaines has a violent crime rate of 120.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,139.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Des Plaines compare to the national average?
Des Plaines's total crime rate of 1,260.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 57,218 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Des Plaines?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Des Plaines are larceny-theft (344 reported incidents) and burglary (239 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 9.4x in the city.
Is Des Plaines safe to visit?
Like any city, Des Plaines has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 65/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.