Share

Bellingham, MA vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bellingham crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Bellingham, MA 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 Bellingham, MA or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bellingham, MA is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 65/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,260 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 69% lower. Bellingham has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 145.8x 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 Bellingham, MA?

Bellingham — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Bellingham, MA

Bellingham, MA
Safety Score 65/100
Coverage 18,099
Total Crime Rate 1,259.7
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 Bellingham Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,259.7 4,012.2 -2,752.5
Violent Crime Rate 215.5 539.9 -324.4
Murder Rate 0.0 17.5 -17.5
Rape Rate 44.2 58.8 -14.6
Robbery Rate 22.1 335.3 -313.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 149.2 128.3 +20.9
Property Crime Rate 1,044.3 3,472.4 -2,428.1
Burglary Rate 66.3 294.8 -228.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 917.2 2,318.8 -1,401.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 60.8 858.9 -798.1

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

Moving from Bellingham, 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 Bellingham or Chicago safer?

Bellingham, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,260 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 69% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bellingham has a violent crime rate of 215.5 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Bellingham has lower violent crime.

About Bellingham, MA

Bellingham, Massachusetts, a suburban town in southeastern Worcester County, was incorporated in 1719. It's home to roughly 19,000 residents and features a mix of residential areas and commercial zones along Route 126. With a safety score of 65/100 and a population coverage of 18,099, Bellingham has a total crime rate of 1,259.7 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