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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Pontiac, IL has a Safety Score of 53/100 — safer than 53% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,597.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,406 of 2,971 US cities and #119 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Pontiac, Illinois Safe?
Pontiac, Illinois, the county seat of Livingston County, is a small city on the Vermilion River. It's home to several historic Route 66 attractions and has a population of around 11,000.
Pontiac has a safety score of 53/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,597.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Pontiac ranks #119 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #1406 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 53rd percentile for safety — safer than 53% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Pontiac is rape, at 109.5 per 100K — 2.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Pontiac's total crime rate decreased by 3.2%, with violent crime rising 21.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Pontiac Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 26 | 237.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 109.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 14 | 127.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 149 | 1,359.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 12 | 109.5 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 132 | 1,204.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 45.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Pontiac vs Illinois Average
How does Pontiac's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Pontiac | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 237.3 | 356.4 | -33.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,359.7 | 2,126.5 | -36.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,597.0 | 2,482.9 | -35.7% |
Pontiac Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Pontiac, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11,184 | 1,520.0 | 304.0 | 1,216.0 |
| 2019 | 11,211 | 1,569.9 | 249.8 | 1,320.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontiac, Illinois safe?
Pontiac has a safety score of 53/100, meaning it has less crime than about 53% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,597.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Pontiac is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Pontiac, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Pontiac has a violent crime rate of 237.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,359.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Pontiac compare to the national average?
Pontiac's total crime rate of 1,597.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,958 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Pontiac?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Pontiac include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Pontiac safe to visit?
Like any city, Pontiac has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 53/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.