Share

Chicago, IL vs Elgin, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Elgin crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Elgin, 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.

Get the planner →

Is Chicago, IL or Elgin, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Elgin, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 61/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,369 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 66% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Elgin has a 91% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 23.4x 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

Elgin — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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

Elgin, IL

Elgin, IL
Safety Score 61/100
Coverage 112,879
Total Crime Rate 1,368.7
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Elgin Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,368.7 +2,643.5
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 266.7 +273.2
Murder Rate 17.5 4.4 +13.0
Rape Rate 58.8 64.7 -5.9
Robbery Rate 335.3 31.0 +304.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 166.6 -38.2
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,102.1 +2,370.3
Burglary Rate 294.8 211.7 +83.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 804.4 +1,514.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 85.9 +772.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Elgin, 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago or Elgin safer?

Elgin, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,369 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 66% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Elgin has 266.7. Elgin 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 Elgin, IL

Elgin, Illinois, once known as "Watch City" due to the Elgin National Watch Company, is a Fox River community. Located in Kane and Cook counties, it's home to a diverse population of over 114,000 residents. With a safety score of 61/100 and a population coverage of 112,879, Elgin has a total crime rate of 1,368.7 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons