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Chicago vs Santa Clara Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Santa Clara crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Santa Clara, CA?

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Is Chicago or Santa Clara Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Santa Clara is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 25/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,684 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 33% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Clara has a 91% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 20.0x 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

Santa Clara — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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 1/7

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara, CA
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 131,901
Total Crime Rate 2,683.8
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Santa Clara Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 2,683.8 +1,328.4
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 182.0 +357.9
Murder Rate 17.5 1.5 +16.0
Rape Rate 58.8 19.7 +39.1
Robbery Rate 335.3 57.6 +277.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 103.1 +25.2
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,501.9 +970.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 337.4 -42.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,771.0 +547.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 393.5 +465.4

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Santa Clara, 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 Santa Clara safer?

Santa Clara is safer with a total crime rate of 2,684 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 33% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Santa Clara has 182.0. Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara, home to Levi's Stadium, is a Silicon Valley city in Santa Clara County. It's a key tech hub with a diverse, educated population and a significant presence of professionals in the STEM fields. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 131,901, Santa Clara has a total crime rate of 2,683.8 per 100,000 residents.

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