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Chicago, IL vs Dayton, OH Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Dayton crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Dayton, OH?

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Is Chicago, IL or Dayton, OH Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago, IL is safer than Dayton, OH (Safety Score 8/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 5,673 for Dayton, OH — 29% lower. Chicago has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Chicago has a 60% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 19.6x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Dayton — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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 5/7

Dayton, OH

Dayton, OH
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 134,857
Total Crime Rate 5,673.4
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Dayton Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 5,673.4 -1,661.2
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 1,339.2 -799.4
Murder Rate 17.5 29.7 -12.2
Rape Rate 58.8 116.4 -57.6
Robbery Rate 335.3 252.9 +82.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 940.3 -811.9
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 4,334.2 -861.8
Burglary Rate 294.8 859.4 -564.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,144.5 +174.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 1,330.3 -471.4

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Dayton, OH?

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 Dayton safer?

Chicago, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 5,673 for Dayton, OH — a 29% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Dayton has 1,339.2. Chicago 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 Dayton, OH

Dayton, birthplace of aviation, is a mid-sized city in southwest Ohio. Nestled in the Miami Valley, its population is diverse, with a notable manufacturing legacy. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 134,857, Dayton has a total crime rate of 5,673.4 per 100,000 residents.

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