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Chicago vs Muscle Shoals Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Muscle Shoals crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Muscle Shoals, AL?

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Is Chicago or Muscle Shoals Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Muscle Shoals is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 17/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,171 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 21% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 150.8x 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

Muscle Shoals — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 2,638,698
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2
Category Wins 1/7

Muscle Shoals, AL

Muscle Shoals, AL
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 17,501
Total Crime Rate 3,171.3
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Muscle Shoals Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,171.3 +841.0
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 188.6 +351.3
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 40.0 +18.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 17.1 +318.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 125.7 +2.6
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,982.7 +489.7
Burglary Rate 294.8 114.3 +180.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,685.6 -366.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 182.9 +676.0

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Muscle Shoals, AL?

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 Muscle Shoals safer?

Muscle Shoals is safer with a total crime rate of 3,171 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 21% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Muscle Shoals has 188.6. Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals, AL

Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a small city nestled by the Tennessee River, is renowned for its legendary recording studios, where countless music icons created hits. This Lauderdale County city has a population of around 16,000. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 17,501, Muscle Shoals has a total crime rate of 3,171.3 per 100,000 residents.

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