Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Ottawa, IL has a Safety Score of 50/100 — safer than 50% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,479 of 2,971 US cities and #121 of 184 in Illinois.
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 50/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Ottawa ranks #121 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #1479 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 50th percentile for safety — safer than 50% 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 35 | 187.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 64.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 5.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 22 | 117.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 280 | 1,495.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 54 | 288.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 209 | 1,116.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 17 | 90.8 | 352.4 |
| 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 | 356.4 | -47.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,495.6 | 2,126.5 | -29.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,682.5 | 2,482.9 | -32.2% |
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 |
| 2021 | 18,017 | 255.3 | 61.1 | 194.3 |
| 2020 | 17,983 | 1,679.4 | 111.2 | 1,568.2 |
| 2019 | 18,047 | 1,662.3 | 149.6 | 1,512.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ottawa, Illinois safe?
Ottawa has a safety score of 50/100, meaning it has less crime than about 50% 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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Ottawa safe to visit?
Like any city, Ottawa has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 50/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.