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Chicago vs North Charleston Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · North Charleston crime rate

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Is Chicago or North Charleston Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago is safer than North Charleston (Safety Score 8/100 vs 4/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 4,767 for North Charleston — 16% lower. Chicago has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where North Charleston has a 54% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 21.4x 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

North Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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 4/7

North Charleston, SC

North Charleston, SC
Safety Score 4/100
Coverage 123,511
Total Crime Rate 4,767.2
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago North Charleston Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 4,767.2 -755.0
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 811.3 -271.4
Murder Rate 17.5 17.0 +0.5
Rape Rate 58.8 60.7 -1.9
Robbery Rate 335.3 153.0 +182.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 579.7 -451.4
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 3,955.9 -483.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 323.9 -29.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 3,105.8 -787.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 526.3 +332.6

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to North Charleston, SC?

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 North Charleston safer?

Chicago is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 4,767 for North Charleston — a 16% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while North Charleston has 811.3. 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 North Charleston, SC

North Charleston, a city with a rich naval history, lies in the heart of the Lowcountry. It's home to a diverse population exceeding 115,000 residents, spanning both Charleston and Dorchester counties. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 123,511, North Charleston has a total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 residents.

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