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Chicago vs Louisville Metro Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Louisville Metro crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Louisville Metro, KY?

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Is Chicago or Louisville Metro Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago is safer than Louisville Metro (Safety Score 8/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 4,035 for Louisville Metro — 1% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Louisville Metro has a 62% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 3.9x 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

Louisville Metro — 5-Year Trend

Flat 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 3/7

Louisville Metro, KY

Louisville Metro, KY
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 676,843
Total Crime Rate 4,034.8
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Louisville Metro Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 4,034.8 -22.5
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 708.6 -168.7
Murder Rate 17.5 21.7 -4.3
Rape Rate 58.8 30.7 +28.1
Robbery Rate 335.3 128.2 +207.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 526.7 -398.4
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 3,326.2 +146.2
Burglary Rate 294.8 455.6 -160.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,086.6 +232.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 783.9 +74.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Louisville Metro, KY?

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 Louisville Metro safer?

Chicago is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 4,035 for Louisville Metro — a 1% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Louisville Metro has 708.6. 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 Louisville Metro, KY

Louisville Metro, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby, sprawls along the Ohio River. This consolidated city-county is Kentucky's most populous, with a diverse urban and suburban landscape. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 676,843, Louisville Metro has a total crime rate of 4,034.8 per 100,000 residents.

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