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Burlington, IA vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Burlington crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Burlington, IA to Chicago, IL?

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Is Burlington, IA or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Burlington, IA is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 34/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,239 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 44% lower. Burlington has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Burlington has a 95% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 112.6x 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 Burlington, IA?

Burlington — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Burlington, IA

Burlington, IA
Safety Score 34/100
Coverage 23,444
Total Crime Rate 2,239.4
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 Burlington Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,239.4 4,012.2 -1,772.9
Violent Crime Rate 413.8 539.9 -126.1
Murder Rate 8.5 17.5 -8.9
Rape Rate 38.4 58.8 -20.4
Robbery Rate 17.1 335.3 -318.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 349.8 128.3 +221.5
Property Crime Rate 1,825.6 3,472.4 -1,646.8
Burglary Rate 273.0 294.8 -21.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,356.4 2,318.8 -962.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 196.2 858.9 -662.7

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

Moving from Burlington, IA 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 Burlington or Chicago safer?

Burlington, IA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,239 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 44% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Burlington has a violent crime rate of 413.8 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Burlington has lower violent crime.

About Burlington, IA

Burlington, Iowa, a historic Mississippi River town, was once the state's first capital. Located in Des Moines County, its population is approximately 23,000. With a safety score of 34/100 and a population coverage of 23,444, Burlington has a total crime rate of 2,239.4 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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