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Brookings vs Chicago Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Brookings crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Brookings, SD to Chicago, IL?

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Is Brookings or Chicago Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Brookings is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 64/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,266 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 68% lower. Brookings has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 107.1x 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 Brookings, SD?

Brookings — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Brookings, SD

Brookings, SD
Safety Score 64/100
Coverage 24,638
Total Crime Rate 1,266.3
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 Brookings Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,266.3 4,012.2 -2,745.9
Violent Crime Rate 89.3 539.9 -450.6
Murder Rate 0.0 17.5 -17.5
Rape Rate 16.2 58.8 -42.5
Robbery Rate 0.0 335.3 -335.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 69.0 128.3 -59.3
Property Crime Rate 1,177.0 3,472.4 -2,295.4
Burglary Rate 44.7 294.8 -250.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,059.3 2,318.8 -1,259.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 73.1 858.9 -785.8

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

Moving from Brookings, SD 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 Brookings or Chicago safer?

Brookings is safer with a total crime rate of 1,266 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 68% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Brookings has a violent crime rate of 89.3 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Brookings has lower violent crime.

About Brookings, SD

Brookings, South Dakota, home to South Dakota State University, is a plains community near the Minnesota border. Its population of around 24,000 is largely influenced by the university's students and faculty. With a safety score of 64/100 and a population coverage of 24,638, Brookings has a total crime rate of 1,266.3 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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