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Chicago vs River Forest Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · River Forest crime rate

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Is Chicago or River Forest Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, River Forest is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 27/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,563 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 36% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 238.1x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

River Forest — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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

River Forest, IL

River Forest, IL
Safety Score 27/100
Coverage 11,080
Total Crime Rate 2,563.2
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago River Forest Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 2,563.2 +1,449.1
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 90.3 +449.6
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 0.0 +58.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 45.1 +290.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 45.1 +83.2
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,472.9 +999.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 577.6 -282.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,841.2 +477.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 54.2 +804.7

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to River Forest, IL?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago or River Forest safer?

River Forest is safer with a total crime rate of 2,563 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 36% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while River Forest has 90.3. River Forest 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 River Forest, IL

River Forest is an affluent, tree-lined Chicago suburb known for its historic architecture, including numerous Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Situated along the Des Plaines River, it boasts a highly educated population. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 11,080, River Forest has a total crime rate of 2,563.2 per 100,000 residents.

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