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Champaign vs Chicago Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Champaign crime rate · Chicago crime rate

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Is Champaign or Chicago Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Champaign is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 23/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,781 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 31% lower. Champaign has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Champaign has a 73% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 29.5x 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 Champaign, IL?

Champaign — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Champaign, IL

Champaign, IL
Safety Score 23/100
Coverage 89,466
Total Crime Rate 2,780.9
Category Wins 6/7

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 2,638,698
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Champaign Chicago Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,780.9 4,012.2 -1,231.3
Violent Crime Rate 501.9 539.9 -38.0
Murder Rate 5.6 17.5 -11.9
Rape Rate 68.2 58.8 +9.4
Robbery Rate 91.7 335.3 -243.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 336.4 128.3 +208.1
Property Crime Rate 2,279.1 3,472.4 -1,193.3
Burglary Rate 574.5 294.8 +279.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,472.1 2,318.8 -846.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 232.5 858.9 -626.4

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

Moving from Champaign, IL to Chicago, IL?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Champaign or Chicago safer?

Champaign is safer with a total crime rate of 2,781 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 31% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Champaign has a violent crime rate of 501.9 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Champaign has lower violent crime.

About Champaign, IL

Champaign, Illinois, home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a mid-sized city in East Central Illinois. Its flat prairie landscape and highly educated populace reflect its agricultural roots and academic focus. With a safety score of 23/100 and a population coverage of 89,466, Champaign has a total crime rate of 2,780.9 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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