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Chicago vs St. Louis City Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · St. Louis City crime rate

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Is Chicago or St. Louis City Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago is safer than St. Louis City (Safety Score 8/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 7,076 for St. Louis City — 43% lower. Chicago has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Chicago has a 68% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 9.5x 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

St. Louis City — 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 6/7

St. Louis City, MO

St. Louis City, MO
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 277,294
Total Crime Rate 7,075.9
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago St. Louis City Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 7,075.9 -3,063.6
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 1,368.9 -829.1
Murder Rate 17.5 54.1 -36.6
Rape Rate 58.8 58.1 +0.7
Robbery Rate 335.3 249.6 +85.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 1,005.4 -877.1
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 5,706.9 -2,234.6
Burglary Rate 294.8 819.7 -524.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 3,412.3 -1,093.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 1,475.0 -616.1

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to St. Louis City, MO?

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 St. Louis City safer?

Chicago is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 7,076 for St. Louis City — a 43% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while St. Louis City has 1,368.9. 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 St. Louis City, MO

St. Louis City, Missouri, a major port on the Mississippi River, is home to the iconic Gateway Arch. With a population exceeding 300,000, it's a vibrant Midwestern hub with a rich German heritage. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 277,294, St. Louis City has a total crime rate of 7,075.9 per 100,000 residents.

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