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Chicago vs Nashville Metro Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Nashville Metro crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Nashville Metro, TN?

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Is Chicago or Nashville Metro Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago is safer than Nashville Metro (Safety Score 8/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 5,634 for Nashville Metro — 29% lower. Chicago has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Nashville Metro has a 54% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 3.8x 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

Nashville Metro — 5-Year Trend

Flat 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 4/7

Nashville Metro, TN

Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 698,987
Total Crime Rate 5,633.6
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Nashville Metro Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 5,633.6 -1,621.3
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 1,124.1 -584.2
Murder Rate 17.5 14.6 +2.9
Rape Rate 58.8 72.0 -13.2
Robbery Rate 335.3 154.9 +180.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 882.6 -754.2
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 4,509.5 -1,037.1
Burglary Rate 294.8 442.5 -147.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 3,344.4 -1,025.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 722.6 +136.3

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Nashville Metro, TN?

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 Nashville Metro safer?

Chicago is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 5,634 for Nashville Metro — a 29% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Nashville Metro has 1,124.1. 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 Nashville Metro, TN

Nashville Metro, the "Music City," is home to the Grand Ole Opry and a growing population of over 700,000 across Davidson County. Situated on the Cumberland River, it serves as a major transportation hub and cultural center in Middle Tennessee. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 698,987, Nashville Metro has a total crime rate of 5,633.6 per 100,000 residents.

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