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Chicago vs Knoxville Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Knoxville crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Knoxville, TN?

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Is Chicago or Knoxville Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Knoxville is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 13/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,462 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 14% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Knoxville has a 76% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 13.2x 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

Knoxville — 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 2/7

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 200,457
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Knoxville Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,461.6 +550.7
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 740.3 -200.5
Murder Rate 17.5 11.0 +6.5
Rape Rate 58.8 64.9 -6.1
Robbery Rate 335.3 81.8 +253.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 582.7 -454.4
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,721.3 +751.1
Burglary Rate 294.8 328.8 -34.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,013.9 +304.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 378.6 +480.2

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Knoxville, TN?

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 Knoxville safer?

Knoxville is safer with a total crime rate of 3,462 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 14% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Knoxville has 740.3. 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 Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, is a city of just under 200,000 residents. It boasts a rich musical heritage, notably as the birthplace of the Everly Brothers. The Tennessee River flows along its downtown, a reminder of its historical role in trade and industry. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 200,457, Knoxville has a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents.

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