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Bristol, VA vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bristol crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Bristol, VA to Chicago, IL?

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Is Bristol, VA or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bristol, VA is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 13/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,463 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 14% lower. Bristol has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 157.3x 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 Bristol, VA?

Bristol — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Bristol, VA

Bristol, VA
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 16,775
Total Crime Rate 3,463.5
Category Wins 6/7

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 2,638,698
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bristol Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,463.5 4,012.2 -548.8
Violent Crime Rate 435.2 539.9 -104.7
Murder Rate 0.0 17.5 -17.5
Rape Rate 95.4 58.8 +36.6
Robbery Rate 35.8 335.3 -299.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 304.0 128.3 +175.7
Property Crime Rate 3,028.3 3,472.4 -444.1
Burglary Rate 292.1 294.8 -2.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,563.3 2,318.8 +244.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 172.9 858.9 -686.0

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

Moving from Bristol, VA 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 Bristol or Chicago safer?

Bristol, VA is safer with a total crime rate of 3,463 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 14% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bristol has a violent crime rate of 435.2 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Bristol has lower violent crime.

About Bristol, VA

Nestled in Southwest Virginia's Appalachian Mountains, Bristol is a twin city with its Tennessee counterpart, sharing State Street as a unique border. It holds the distinction as the "Birthplace of Country Music," a heritage deeply rooted in its culture. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 16,775, Bristol has a total crime rate of 3,463.5 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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