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Chicago, IL vs Huntsville, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Huntsville crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?

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Is Chicago, IL or Huntsville, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Huntsville, AL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 22/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,872 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 28% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Huntsville has a 84% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 11.5x 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

Huntsville — 4-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 1/7

Huntsville, AL

Huntsville, AL
Safety Score 22/100
Coverage 228,697
Total Crime Rate 2,871.9
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Huntsville Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 2,871.9 +1,140.3
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 483.6 +56.2
Murder Rate 17.5 8.3 +9.2
Rape Rate 58.8 48.5 +10.2
Robbery Rate 335.3 53.8 +281.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 372.6 -244.2
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,388.3 +1,084.1
Burglary Rate 294.8 321.4 -26.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,808.9 +509.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 258.0 +600.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL?

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 Huntsville safer?

Huntsville, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 2,872 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 28% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Huntsville has 483.6. Huntsville 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 Huntsville, AL

Huntsville, Alabama, a city rooted in aerospace since the Space Race, sits in the Appalachian foothills. It's a growing tech hub with a significant population of highly educated professionals. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 228,697, Huntsville has a total crime rate of 2,871.9 per 100,000 residents.

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