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Chicago, IL vs Lincoln, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Lincoln crime rate

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Is Chicago, IL or Lincoln, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lincoln, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 67/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,183 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 71% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Lincoln has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 202.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Lincoln — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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

Lincoln, IL

Lincoln, IL
Safety Score 67/100
Coverage 13,014
Total Crime Rate 1,183.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Lincoln Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,183.3 +2,828.9
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 169.1 +370.8
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 23.1 +35.7
Robbery Rate 335.3 7.7 +327.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 138.3 -10.0
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,014.3 +2,458.1
Burglary Rate 294.8 261.3 +33.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 714.6 +1,604.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 38.4 +820.5

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Lincoln, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago or Lincoln safer?

Lincoln, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,183 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 71% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Lincoln has 169.1. Lincoln 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 Lincoln, IL

Lincoln, Illinois, uniquely named for Abraham Lincoln before his presidency, is a small city in Logan County with a population around 13,000. It's situated in the heart of agricultural Illinois, near the geographic center of the state. With a safety score of 67/100 and a population coverage of 13,014, Lincoln has a total crime rate of 1,183.3 per 100,000 residents.

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