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Chicago vs Odessa Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Odessa crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Odessa, TX?

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Is Chicago or Odessa Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Odessa is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 36/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,163 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 46% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Odessa has a 88% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 22.7x 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

Odessa — 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 0/7

Odessa, TX

Odessa, TX
Safety Score 36/100
Coverage 116,039
Total Crime Rate 2,163.1
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Odessa Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 2,163.1 +1,849.2
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 320.6 +219.3
Murder Rate 17.5 3.5 +14.0
Rape Rate 58.8 53.4 +5.4
Robbery Rate 335.3 38.8 +296.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 220.6 -92.3
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,842.5 +1,629.9
Burglary Rate 294.8 219.8 +75.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,368.5 +950.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 254.2 +604.7

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Odessa, TX?

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 Odessa safer?

Odessa is safer with a total crime rate of 2,163 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Odessa has 320.6. Odessa 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 Odessa, TX

Odessa, named after the Ukrainian city, is a West Texas hub in the Permian Basin. This arid region is a major center for oil and gas production, drawing a diverse, largely working-class population. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 116,039, Odessa has a total crime rate of 2,163.1 per 100,000 residents.

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