Share

Altoona, IA vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Altoona crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Altoona, IA to Chicago, IL?

An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Altoona, IA or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Altoona, IA is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 37/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,154 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 46% lower. Altoona has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Altoona has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 117.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Altoona, IA?

Altoona — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Altoona, IA

Altoona, IA
Safety Score 37/100
Coverage 22,422
Total Crime Rate 2,154.1
Category Wins 7/7

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 2,638,698
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Altoona Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,154.1 4,012.2 -1,858.1
Violent Crime Rate 142.7 539.9 -397.1
Murder Rate 0.0 17.5 -17.5
Rape Rate 8.9 58.8 -49.9
Robbery Rate 13.4 335.3 -321.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 120.4 128.3 -7.9
Property Crime Rate 2,011.4 3,472.4 -1,461.0
Burglary Rate 116.0 294.8 -178.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,775.0 2,318.8 -543.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 120.4 858.9 -738.5

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Altoona, IA to Chicago, IL?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altoona or Chicago safer?

Altoona, IA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,154 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Altoona has a violent crime rate of 142.7 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Altoona has lower violent crime.

About Altoona, IA

Altoona, Iowa, a Des Moines suburb, is home to Adventureland Park. This growing city in Polk County has a population of over 20,000. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 22,422, Altoona has a total crime rate of 2,154.1 per 100,000 residents.

About Chicago, IL

Chicago, Illinois, a major Midwest hub and birthplace of the skyscraper, sits on Lake Michigan's shores. Its diverse population of over 2.7 million people contributes to its vibrant arts and culture scene. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 2,638,698, Chicago has a total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons