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Cedar Rapids vs Chicago Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cedar Rapids crime rate · Chicago crime rate

Moving from Cedar Rapids, IA to Chicago, IL?

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Is Cedar Rapids or Chicago Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cedar Rapids is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 20/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,951 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 26% lower. Cedar Rapids has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Cedar Rapids has a 96% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 19.5x 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 Cedar Rapids, IA?

Cedar Rapids — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA
Safety Score 20/100
Coverage 135,363
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3
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 Cedar Rapids Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3 4,012.2 -1,060.9
Violent Crime Rate 262.3 539.9 -277.6
Murder Rate 0.7 17.5 -16.7
Rape Rate 11.1 58.8 -47.7
Robbery Rate 30.3 335.3 -305.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 219.4 128.3 +91.1
Property Crime Rate 2,689.1 3,472.4 -783.3
Burglary Rate 274.1 294.8 -20.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,203.0 2,318.8 -115.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 212.0 858.9 -646.9

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

Moving from Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids or Chicago safer?

Cedar Rapids is safer with a total crime rate of 2,951 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 26% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cedar Rapids has a violent crime rate of 262.3 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Cedar Rapids has lower violent crime.

About Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city bisected by the Cedar River, boasts a vibrant Czech Village reflecting its immigrant history. It is the second-largest city in Iowa, with a population approaching 140,000. With a safety score of 20/100 and a population coverage of 135,363, Cedar Rapids has a total crime rate of 2,951.3 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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