Is Alton or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Alton (Safety Score 19/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,640 for Alton — 16% lower. Alton has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 68% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 334.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Alton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Alton, IL
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Alton | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,639.8 | 3,039.7 | +600.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 971.4 | 671.4 | +300.0 |
| Murder Rate | 12.1 | 3.9 | +8.2 |
| Rape Rate | 137.1 | 23.4 | +113.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 116.9 | 187.5 | -70.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 697.3 | 456.2 | +241.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,668.4 | 2,368.3 | +300.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 943.2 | 154.7 | +788.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,487.4 | 2,015.0 | -527.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 237.8 | 198.5 | +39.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alton or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,640 for Alton — a 16% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Alton has a violent crime rate of 971.4 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Alton, IL
Alton, Illinois, a river town on the Mississippi, is known for its limestone bluffs and as the site of the final Lincoln-Douglas debate. Located just north of St. Louis, it has a population of around 25,000. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 24,809, Alton has a total crime rate of 3,639.8 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.