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Chicago vs Morro Bay Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Morro Bay crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Morro Bay, CA?

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Is Chicago or Morro Bay Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Morro Bay is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 71/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,092 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 73% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 250.5x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Morro Bay — 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 0/7

Morro Bay, CA

Morro Bay, CA
Safety Score 71/100
Coverage 10,532
Total Crime Rate 1,091.9
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Morro Bay Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,091.9 +2,920.3
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 303.8 +236.0
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 66.5 -7.7
Robbery Rate 335.3 19.0 +316.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 208.9 -80.6
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 788.1 +2,684.3
Burglary Rate 294.8 38.0 +256.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 702.6 +1,616.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 47.5 +811.4

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Morro Bay, CA?

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 Morro Bay safer?

Morro Bay is safer with a total crime rate of 1,092 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 73% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Morro Bay has 303.8. Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay, CA

Morro Bay, a small coastal city in San Luis Obispo County, is famous for Morro Rock, a volcanic plug that's part of the Nine Sisters. Its harbor supports a fishing fleet and draws tourists to its waterfront. With a safety score of 71/100 and a population coverage of 10,532, Morro Bay has a total crime rate of 1,091.9 per 100,000 residents.

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