Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Evanston, IL has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,323 of 2,957 US cities and #159 of 183 in Illinois.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Evanston, IL?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Evanston, Illinois Safe?
Evanston, a Chicago suburb on Lake Michigan, is home to Northwestern University, a prestigious private institution. Its diverse population reflects a mix of students, families, and long-time residents.
Evanston has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Evanston ranks #159 out of 183 cities in Illinois and #2323 out of 2957 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 Evanston is burglary, at 451.6 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Evanston's total crime rate decreased by 12.7%, with violent crime declining 15.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Evanston Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 105 | 141.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 23 | 31.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 41 | 55.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 41 | 55.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 2,034 | 2,742.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 335 | 451.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,524 | 2,054.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 175 | 235.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Evanston vs Illinois Average
How does Evanston's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Evanston | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 141.6 | 356.9 | -60.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,742.1 | 2,129.2 | +28.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,883.6 | 2,486.1 | +16.0% |
Evanston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Evanston, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 74,178 | 2,883.6 | 141.6 | 2,742.1 |
| 2023 | 74,413 | 3,303.2 | 168.0 | 3,135.2 |
| 2022 | 76,259 | 2,608.2 | 167.9 | 2,440.4 |
| 2021 | 72,497 | 2,489.8 | 177.9 | 2,311.8 |
| 2020 | 73,352 | 2,342.1 | 203.1 | 2,139.0 |
| 2019 | 74,047 | 2,771.2 | 155.3 | 2,615.9 |
Evanston Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Evanston 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 Evanston, Illinois safe?
Evanston 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 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Evanston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Evanston, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Evanston has a violent crime rate of 141.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,742.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Evanston compare to the national average?
Evanston's total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 74,178 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Evanston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Evanston are larceny-theft (1,524 reported incidents) and burglary (335 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 19.4x in the city.
Is Evanston safe to visit?
Like any city, Evanston 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.