Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, East St. Louis, IL has a Safety Score of 38/100 — higher crime than 62% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,599.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,716 of 2,775 US cities and #141 of 187 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is East St. Louis, Illinois Safe?
East St. Louis has a safety score of 38/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,599.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,091.8 per 100,000.
East St. Louis ranks #141 out of 187 cities in Illinois and #1716 out of 2775 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 38th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 62% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in East St. Louis is murder, at 137.0 per 100K — 22.1x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
East St. Louis Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 268 | 1,019.9 | 483.2 |
| Murder | 36 | 137.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 27 | 102.8 | 49.8 |
| Robbery | 32 | 121.8 | 119.5 |
| Aggravated Assault | 173 | 658.4 | 307.5 |
| Property Crime | 415 | 1,579.3 | 2,608.6 |
| Burglary | 169 | 643.2 | 387.9 |
| Larceny-Theft | 139 | 529.0 | 1,936.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 107 | 407.2 | 284.6 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
East St. Louis vs Illinois Average
How does East St. Louis's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | East St. Louis | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,019.9 | 511.4 | +99.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,579.3 | 2,119.6 | -25.5% |
| Murder Rate | 137.0 | 8.7 | +1,471.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,599.2 | 2,630.9 | -1.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East St. Louis, Illinois safe?
East St. Louis has a safety score of 38/100, meaning it has less crime than about 38% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,599.2 per 100,000 residents in 2019, East St. Louis is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in East St. Louis, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2019, East St. Louis has a violent crime rate of 1,019.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,579.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does East St. Louis compare to the national average?
East St. Louis's total crime rate of 2,599.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 26,277 residents.
What types of crime are most common in East St. Louis?
Based on FBI 2019 data, the most reported crimes in East St. Louis are aggravated assault (173 reported incidents) and burglary (169 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 1.5x in the city.
Is East St. Louis safe to visit?
Like any city, East St. Louis has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 38/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.