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Chicago vs Cortland Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Cortland crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Cortland, NY?

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Is Chicago or Cortland Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cortland is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 17/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,181 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 21% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 153.4x 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 Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Cortland — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago, IL

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

Cortland, NY

Cortland, NY
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 17,197
Total Crime Rate 3,180.8
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Cortland Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,180.8 +831.5
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 226.8 +313.1
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 40.7 +18.1
Robbery Rate 335.3 11.6 +323.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 174.5 -46.1
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,954.0 +518.4
Burglary Rate 294.8 325.6 -30.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,581.9 -263.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 46.5 +812.4

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Cortland, NY?

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 Cortland safer?

Cortland is safer with a total crime rate of 3,181 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 21% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Cortland has 226.8. Cortland 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 Cortland, NY

Cortland, "The Crown City," sits in Central New York's hills. Home to SUNY Cortland, it's a small city with a population around 19,000. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 17,197, Cortland has a total crime rate of 3,180.8 per 100,000 residents.

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