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Chicago vs San Bernardino Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · San Bernardino crime rate

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Is Chicago or San Bernardino Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Bernardino is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 10/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,795 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 5% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Chicago has a 40% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 11.8x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

San Bernardino — 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 2/7

San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino, CA
Safety Score 10/100
Coverage 224,283
Total Crime Rate 3,794.8
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago San Bernardino Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,794.8 +217.5
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 897.1 -357.2
Murder Rate 17.5 11.2 +6.3
Rape Rate 58.8 49.9 +8.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 241.2 +94.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 594.8 -466.5
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,897.7 +574.7
Burglary Rate 294.8 455.2 -160.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,677.4 +641.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 765.1 +93.8

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to San Bernardino, CA?

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 San Bernardino safer?

San Bernardino is safer with a total crime rate of 3,795 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 5% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while San Bernardino has 897.1. 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 San Bernardino, CA

Nestled in the Inland Empire, San Bernardino is a diverse city historically linked to the Santa Fe Railroad. Its population of over 200,000 residents enjoys views of the San Bernardino Mountains. With a safety score of 10/100 and a population coverage of 224,283, San Bernardino has a total crime rate of 3,794.8 per 100,000 residents.

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