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Cary, NC vs Chicago, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cary crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Cary, NC to Chicago, IL?

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Is Cary, NC or Chicago, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cary, NC is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 60/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 65% lower. Cary has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cary has a 96% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 14.5x 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 Cary, NC?

Cary — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Cary, NC

Cary, NC
Safety Score 60/100
Coverage 181,793
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9
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 Cary Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9 4,012.2 -2,623.3
Violent Crime Rate 71.5 539.9 -468.3
Murder Rate 1.7 17.5 -15.8
Rape Rate 6.6 58.8 -52.2
Robbery Rate 12.7 335.3 -322.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.1 128.3 -78.3
Property Crime Rate 1,317.4 3,472.4 -2,155.0
Burglary Rate 88.6 294.8 -206.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,110.6 2,318.8 -1,208.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 118.3 858.9 -740.6

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

Moving from Cary, NC 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 Cary or Chicago safer?

Cary, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 65% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cary has a violent crime rate of 71.5 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Cary has lower violent crime.

About Cary, NC

Cary, NC, a large town in the Research Triangle region, began as a railroad town. It consistently ranks among the most educated communities in the U.S., attracting a diverse, affluent population. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 181,793, Cary has a total crime rate of 1,388.9 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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