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Bedford, MA vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bedford crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Bedford, MA to Chicago, IL?

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Is Bedford, MA or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bedford, MA is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 94/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 457 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 89% lower. Bedford has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Bedford has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 180.0x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Bedford, MA?

Bedford — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Bedford, MA

Bedford, MA
Safety Score 94/100
Coverage 14,659
Total Crime Rate 457.1
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 Bedford Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 457.1 4,012.2 -3,555.2
Violent Crime Rate 13.6 539.9 -526.2
Murder Rate 13.6 17.5 -3.8
Rape Rate 0.0 58.8 -58.8
Robbery Rate 0.0 335.3 -335.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 0.0 128.3 -128.3
Property Crime Rate 443.4 3,472.4 -3,029.0
Burglary Rate 40.9 294.8 -253.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 375.2 2,318.8 -1,943.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 27.3 858.9 -831.6

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

Moving from Bedford, MA 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 Bedford or Chicago safer?

Bedford, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 457 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 89% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bedford has a violent crime rate of 13.6 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Bedford has lower violent crime.

About Bedford, MA

Bedford, MA, home to Hanscom Air Force Base and a significant tech industry presence, sits northwest of Boston. This Middlesex County town, a bedroom community, maintains a suburban character with a notable historical district. With a safety score of 94/100 and a population coverage of 14,659, Bedford has a total crime rate of 457.1 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.

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