Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, River Forest, IL has a Safety Score of 27/100 — higher crime than 73% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,563.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,165 of 2,971 US cities and #153 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is River Forest, Illinois Safe?
River Forest is an affluent, tree-lined Chicago suburb known for its historic architecture, including numerous Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Situated along the Des Plaines River, it boasts a highly educated population.
River Forest has a safety score of 27/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,563.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
River Forest ranks #153 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #2165 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 27th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 73% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in River Forest is burglary, at 577.6 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, River Forest's total crime rate increased by 69.2%, with violent crime rising 11.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
River Forest Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 10 | 90.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 0 | 0.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 45.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 5 | 45.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 274 | 2,472.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 64 | 577.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 204 | 1,841.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 54.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
River Forest vs Illinois Average
How does River Forest's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | River Forest | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 90.3 | 356.4 | -74.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,472.9 | 2,126.5 | +16.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,563.2 | 2,482.9 | +3.2% |
River Forest Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for River Forest, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,080 | 2,563.2 | 90.3 | 2,472.9 |
| 2023 | 11,155 | 1,515.0 | 80.7 | 1,434.3 |
| 2022 | 11,403 | 1,543.5 | 52.6 | 1,490.8 |
| 2021 | 10,647 | 1,521.6 | 75.1 | 1,446.4 |
| 2020 | 10,776 | 1,809.6 | 148.5 | 1,661.1 |
| 2019 | 10,869 | 2,244.9 | 110.4 | 2,134.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is River Forest, Illinois safe?
River Forest has a safety score of 27/100, meaning it has less crime than about 27% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,563.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, River Forest is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in River Forest, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, River Forest has a violent crime rate of 90.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,472.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does River Forest compare to the national average?
River Forest's total crime rate of 2,563.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,080 residents.
What types of crime are most common in River Forest?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in River Forest include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is River Forest safe to visit?
Like any city, River Forest has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 27/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.