Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lake Forest, IL has a Safety Score of 87/100 — safer than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 645.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #382 of 2,971 US cities and #33 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lake Forest, Illinois Safe?
Nestled on Chicago's North Shore, Lake Forest is an affluent suburban community home to esteemed institutions like Lake Forest College. Its tree-lined streets and historic mansions, many dating back to the late 19th century, reflect a long-standing commitment to preserving its architectural heritage.
Lake Forest has a safety score of 87/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 645.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lake Forest ranks #33 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #382 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 87th percentile for safety — safer than 87% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Lake Forest are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Lake Forest's total crime rate decreased by 9.5%, with violent crime declining 60.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lake Forest Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 4 | 20.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 1 | 5.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3 | 15.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 121 | 625.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 40 | 206.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 70 | 361.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 11 | 56.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lake Forest vs Illinois Average
How does Lake Forest's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Lake Forest | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 20.7 | 356.4 | -94.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 625.1 | 2,126.5 | -70.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 645.8 | 2,482.9 | -74.0% |
Lake Forest Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lake Forest, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,357 | 645.8 | 20.7 | 625.1 |
| 2023 | 19,205 | 713.4 | 52.1 | 661.3 |
| 2022 | 19,201 | 687.5 | 15.6 | 671.8 |
| 2021 | 19,378 | 500.6 | 15.5 | 485.1 |
| 2020 | 19,452 | 1,897.0 | 30.9 | 1,866.1 |
| 2019 | 19,564 | 669.6 | 40.9 | 628.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Forest, Illinois safe?
Lake Forest has a safety score of 87/100, meaning it has less crime than about 87% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 645.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lake Forest is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Lake Forest, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lake Forest has a violent crime rate of 20.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 625.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lake Forest compare to the national average?
Lake Forest's total crime rate of 645.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 19,357 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lake Forest?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lake Forest include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lake Forest safe to visit?
Like any city, Lake Forest has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 87/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.