Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Rockford, IL has a Safety Score of 12/100 — higher crime than 88% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,598.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,625 of 2,971 US cities and #176 of 184 in Illinois.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Rockford, Illinois Safe?
Rockford, once known as "Forest City," sits on the Rock River in northern Illinois. Its manufacturing history shaped a blue-collar community of just under 150,000 residents.
Rockford has a safety score of 12/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,598.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Rockford ranks #176 out of 184 cities in Illinois and #2625 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 12th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 88% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Rockford is aggravated assault, at 890.7 per 100K — 2.7x the national average.
Year over year, Rockford's total crime rate decreased by 6.4%, with violent crime declining 5.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Rockford Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,571 | 1,081.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 19 | 13.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 101 | 69.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 155 | 106.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,294 | 890.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 3,657 | 2,517.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 919 | 632.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,099 | 1,444.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 639 | 439.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rockford vs Illinois Average
How does Rockford's crime rate compare to the Illinois state average?
| Metric | Rockford | Illinois Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,081.4 | 356.4 | +203.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,517.2 | 2,126.5 | +18.4% |
| Murder Rate | 13.1 | 7.9 | +66.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,598.6 | 2,482.9 | +44.9% |
Rockford Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Rockford, Illinois.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 145,280 | 3,598.6 | 1,081.4 | 2,517.2 |
| 2023 | 145,873 | 3,843.8 | 1,149.6 | 2,694.1 |
| 2022 | 146,710 | 4,086.3 | 1,438.9 | 2,647.4 |
| 2021 | 144,027 | 4,099.9 | 1,544.9 | 2,555.1 |
| 2020 | 144,795 | 4,313.7 | 1,459.3 | 2,854.4 |
| 2019 | 145,719 | 4,501.8 | 1,174.9 | 3,327.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rockford, Illinois safe?
Rockford has a safety score of 12/100, meaning it has less crime than about 12% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,598.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Rockford is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Rockford, Illinois?
According to FBI data for 2024, Rockford has a violent crime rate of 1,081.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,517.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Rockford compare to the national average?
Rockford's total crime rate of 3,598.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 145,280 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Rockford?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Rockford include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Rockford safe to visit?
Like any city, Rockford has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 12/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.