Moving from Charleston, 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.
Is Charleston, IL or Chicago, IL Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 37/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,153 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 46% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Charleston has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Chicago is 155.6x 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 Charleston, IL?
Charleston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chicago — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Charleston, IL
Chicago, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Charleston | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,152.5 | 4,012.2 | -1,859.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 359.7 | 539.9 | -180.1 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 17.5 | -17.5 |
| Rape Rate | 123.8 | 58.8 | +65.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 5.9 | 335.3 | -329.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 230.0 | 128.3 | +101.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,792.8 | 3,472.4 | -1,679.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 607.4 | 294.8 | +312.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,114.6 | 2,318.8 | -1,204.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 70.8 | 858.9 | -788.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Charleston, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston or Chicago safer?
Charleston, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 2,153 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 46% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Charleston has a violent crime rate of 359.7 per 100K while Chicago has 539.9. Charleston has lower violent crime.
About Charleston, IL
Home to Eastern Illinois University, Charleston is a Central Illinois city with a population around 17,000. It's known for its historic town square and as the site of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 16,957, Charleston has a total crime rate of 2,152.5 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.