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Chicago, IL vs Elgin, TX 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, TX?

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Is Chicago, IL or Elgin, TX Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Elgin, TX is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 52/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,642 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 59% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Elgin has a 87% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 198.8x 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

Elgin — 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 0/7

Elgin, TX

Elgin, TX
Safety Score 52/100
Coverage 13,276
Total Crime Rate 1,642.1
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Elgin Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,642.1 +2,370.2
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 173.2 +366.6
Murder Rate 17.5 7.5 +9.9
Rape Rate 58.8 45.2 +13.6
Robbery Rate 335.3 45.2 +290.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 75.3 +53.0
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,468.8 +2,003.6
Burglary Rate 294.8 278.7 +16.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 986.7 +1,332.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 203.4 +655.5

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Elgin, TX?

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 Elgin safer?

Elgin, TX is safer with a total crime rate of 1,642 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 59% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Elgin has 173.2. 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, TX

Elgin, known as the "Brick Capital of the Southwest," is a city in Bastrop and Travis counties. It's a small, predominantly Hispanic community situated along U.S. Route 290. With a safety score of 52/100 and a population coverage of 13,276, Elgin has a total crime rate of 1,642.1 per 100,000 residents.

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