Is Austin or Wheaton Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Wheaton is safer than Austin (Safety Score 89/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 593 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 84% lower. Austin has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Wheaton has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 18.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Austin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Wheaton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
Wheaton, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Wheaton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 592.6 | +3,116.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 51.3 | +416.2 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 0.0 | +6.6 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 26.6 | +41.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 5.7 | +79.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 17.1 | +290.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 541.3 | +2,700.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 93.1 | +352.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 425.5 | +1,772.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 22.8 | +575.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Wheaton safer?
Wheaton is safer with a total crime rate of 593 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 84% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Wheaton has 51.3. Wheaton has lower violent crime.
About Austin, TX
Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a rapidly growing city in Central Texas. Situated on the Colorado River, it's the state capital and home to a diverse population, including many young professionals drawn to its tech industry. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 984,613, Austin has a total crime rate of 3,709.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Wheaton, IL
Wheaton, a DuPage County seat, is a western suburb of Chicago known for Wheaton College. Its affluent, educated population enjoys a mix of historic homes and modern developments. With a safety score of 89/100 and a population coverage of 52,649, Wheaton has a total crime rate of 592.6 per 100,000 residents.