Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Ottawa, IL has a Safety Score of 51/100 — safer than 51% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,462 of 2,957 US cities and #120 of 183 in Illinois.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Ottawa, IL?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ottawa, Illinois Safe?
Ottawa, Illinois, nestled at the confluence of the Fox and Illinois Rivers, was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This LaSalle County seat has a population of around 18,000.
Ottawa has a safety score of 51/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Ottawa ranks #120 out of 183 cities in Illinois and #1462 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 51st percentile for safety — safer than 51% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Ottawa is rape, at 64.1 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Ottawa's total crime rate decreased by 5%, with violent crime declining 34.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ottawa Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 35 | 187.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 12 | 64.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 5.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 22 | 117.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 280 | 1,495.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 54 | 288.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 209 | 1,116.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 17 | 90.8 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ottawa vs Illinois Average
How does Ottawa's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Ottawa | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 187.0 | 356.9 | -47.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,495.6 | 2,129.2 | -29.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,682.5 | 2,486.1 | -32.3% |
Ottawa Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ottawa, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,722 | 1,682.5 | 187.0 | 1,495.6 |
| 2023 | 18,579 | 1,770.8 | 285.3 | 1,485.6 |
| 2022 | 18,696 | 898.6 | 176.5 | 722.1 |
| 2020 | 17,983 | 1,679.4 | 111.2 | 1,568.2 |
| 2019 | 18,047 | 1,662.3 | 149.6 | 1,512.7 |
Ottawa Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Ottawa 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 Ottawa, Illinois safe?
Ottawa has a safety score of 51/100, meaning it has less crime than about 51% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ottawa is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Ottawa, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ottawa has a violent crime rate of 187.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,495.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ottawa compare to the national average?
Ottawa's total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 18,722 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ottawa?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ottawa are larceny-theft (209 reported incidents) and burglary (54 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 8.0x in the city.
Is Ottawa safe to visit?
Like any city, Ottawa has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 51/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.