Is Charleston or Fort Worth Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Charleston is safer than Fort Worth (Safety Score 36/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,153 per 100,000 versus 3,158 for Fort Worth — 32% 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: Fort Worth is 58.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Charleston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Worth — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Charleston, IL
Fort Worth, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Charleston | Fort Worth | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,152.5 | 3,158.5 | -1,006.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 359.7 | 458.7 | -98.9 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 7.4 | -7.4 |
| Rape Rate | 123.8 | 55.2 | +68.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 5.9 | 72.6 | -66.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 230.0 | 323.1 | -93.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,792.8 | 2,699.8 | -907.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 607.4 | 344.6 | +262.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,114.6 | 1,841.9 | -727.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 70.8 | 513.4 | -442.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston or Fort Worth safer?
Charleston is safer with a total crime rate of 2,153 per 100K vs 3,158 for Fort Worth — a 32% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Charleston has a violent crime rate of 359.7 per 100K while Fort Worth has 458.7. 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 36/100 and a population coverage of 16,957, Charleston has a total crime rate of 2,152.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, a city where the West begins, boasts a rich cattle drive history evident in the Stockyards National Historic District. Located in North Central Texas, it's a populous city within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 997,476, Fort Worth has a total crime rate of 3,158.5 per 100,000 residents.