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Chicago vs Onalaska Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Onalaska crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Onalaska, WI?

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Is Chicago or Onalaska Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Onalaska is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 32/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,329 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 42% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 138.4x 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

Onalaska — 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

Onalaska, WI

Onalaska, WI
Safety Score 32/100
Coverage 19,068
Total Crime Rate 2,328.5
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Onalaska Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 2,328.5 +1,683.7
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 36.7 +503.1
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 21.0 +37.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 0.0 +335.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 15.7 +112.6
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,291.8 +1,180.6
Burglary Rate 294.8 83.9 +210.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,186.9 +131.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 21.0 +837.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Onalaska, WI?

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 Onalaska safer?

Onalaska is safer with a total crime rate of 2,329 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 42% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Onalaska has 36.7. Onalaska 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 Onalaska, WI

Onalaska, Wisconsin, nestled along the Black River, is a La Crosse suburb known as "The Sunfish Capital of the World." Its population of over 19,000 residents enjoys a mix of residential areas and commercial development. With a safety score of 32/100 and a population coverage of 19,068, Onalaska has a total crime rate of 2,328.5 per 100,000 residents.

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