Chicago vs Los Angeles Crime Comparison
Is Chicago or Los Angeles Safer?
Los Angeles is the safer city, with a total crime rate 45% lower than Chicago based on 2024 FBI data. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Los Angeles has a 60% lower rate.
Chicago, IL
Safety Score
27/100
Population
2,638,698
Total Crime Rate
4,012.2
Category Wins
2/7
Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score
59/100
Population
3,796,352
Total Crime Rate
2,212.5
Category Wins
5/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chicago | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,012.2 | 2,212.5 | +1,799.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 539.9 | 728.5 | -188.7 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 7.0 | +10.5 |
| Rape Rate | 58.8 | 40.3 | +18.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 335.3 | 209.9 | +125.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 128.3 | 471.4 | -343.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,472.4 | 1,483.9 | +1,988.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 294.8 | 372.8 | -78.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,318.8 | 851.5 | +1,467.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 858.9 | 259.6 | +599.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago or Los Angeles safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 45% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. Chicago has lower violent crime.