Chicago vs Houston Crime Comparison
Is Chicago or Houston Safer?
Chicago is the safer city, with a total crime rate 26% lower than Houston based on 2024 FBI data. Chicago has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Chicago has a 53% lower rate.
Chicago, IL
Safety Score
27/100
Population
2,638,698
Total Crime Rate
4,012.2
Category Wins
4/7
Houston, TX
Safety Score
1/100
Population
2,319,160
Total Crime Rate
5,441.7
Category Wins
3/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chicago | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,012.2 | 5,441.7 | -1,429.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 539.9 | 1,148.3 | -608.4 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 13.8 | +3.7 |
| Rape Rate | 58.8 | 73.0 | -14.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 335.3 | 274.0 | +61.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 128.3 | 787.4 | -659.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,472.4 | 4,293.5 | -821.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 294.8 | 644.8 | -350.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,318.8 | 2,945.7 | -626.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 858.9 | 703.0 | +155.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago or Houston safer?
Chicago is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 26% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Chicago has lower violent crime.