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Brownsville vs Chicago Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Brownsville crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Brownsville, TX to Chicago, IL?

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Is Brownsville or Chicago Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Brownsville is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 31/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,398 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 40% lower. Brownsville has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Brownsville has a 88% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 13.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Brownsville, TX?

Brownsville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Brownsville, TX

Brownsville, TX
Safety Score 31/100
Coverage 191,221
Total Crime Rate 2,397.8
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 Brownsville Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,397.8 4,012.2 -1,614.5
Violent Crime Rate 456.0 539.9 -83.8
Murder Rate 2.1 17.5 -15.4
Rape Rate 30.9 58.8 -27.9
Robbery Rate 60.7 335.3 -274.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 362.4 128.3 +234.1
Property Crime Rate 1,941.7 3,472.4 -1,530.7
Burglary Rate 192.5 294.8 -102.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,335.6 2,318.8 -983.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 413.7 858.9 -445.2

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

Moving from Brownsville, TX 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 Brownsville or Chicago safer?

Brownsville is safer with a total crime rate of 2,398 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Brownsville has a violent crime rate of 456.0 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Brownsville has lower violent crime.

About Brownsville, TX

Brownsville, the southernmost city in Texas, is a vibrant border community with a rich Tejano heritage. Situated on the Rio Grande, it's home to a diverse, predominantly Hispanic population. With a safety score of 31/100 and a population coverage of 191,221, Brownsville has a total crime rate of 2,397.8 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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