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Birmingham, MI vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Birmingham, MI to Chicago, IL?

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Is Birmingham, MI or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Birmingham, MI is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 86/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 699 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 83% lower. Birmingham has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 123.7x 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 Birmingham, MI?

Birmingham — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Birmingham, MI

Birmingham, MI
Safety Score 86/100
Coverage 21,326
Total Crime Rate 698.7
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 Birmingham Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 698.7 4,012.2 -3,313.6
Violent Crime Rate 56.3 539.9 -483.6
Murder Rate 0.0 17.5 -17.5
Rape Rate 0.0 58.8 -58.8
Robbery Rate 9.4 335.3 -325.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 46.9 128.3 -81.4
Property Crime Rate 642.4 3,472.4 -2,830.0
Burglary Rate 46.9 294.8 -247.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 553.3 2,318.8 -1,765.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 42.2 858.9 -816.7

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

Moving from Birmingham, MI 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 Birmingham or Chicago safer?

Birmingham, MI is safer with a total crime rate of 699 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 83% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 56.3 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Birmingham has lower violent crime.

About Birmingham, MI

Birmingham, Michigan, a affluent Detroit suburb, boasts a vibrant downtown with a rich history, once home to the Baldwin family. Its tree-lined streets and upscale boutiques define its character. With a safety score of 86/100 and a population coverage of 21,326, Birmingham has a total crime rate of 698.7 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.

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