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Chicago, IL vs Columbus, NE Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Columbus crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Columbus, NE?

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Is Chicago, IL or Columbus, NE Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbus, NE is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 74/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,012 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 75% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Columbus has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 107.3x 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 Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Columbus — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 2,638,698
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2
Category Wins 0/7

Columbus, NE

Columbus, NE
Safety Score 74/100
Coverage 24,595
Total Crime Rate 1,012.4
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Columbus Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,012.4 +2,999.8
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 85.4 +454.5
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 44.7 +14.1
Robbery Rate 335.3 4.1 +331.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 36.6 +91.7
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 927.0 +2,545.4
Burglary Rate 294.8 93.5 +201.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 768.5 +1,550.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 65.1 +793.8

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Columbus, NE?

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 Chicago or Columbus safer?

Columbus, NE is safer with a total crime rate of 1,012 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 75% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Columbus has 85.4. Columbus has lower violent crime.

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.

About Columbus, NE

Columbus, Nebraska, a city named after Christopher Columbus, sits on the Loup and Platte Rivers. It is the county seat of Platte County and has a population of over 24,000. With a safety score of 74/100 and a population coverage of 24,595, Columbus has a total crime rate of 1,012.4 per 100,000 residents.

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