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Chicago, IL vs Syracuse, NY Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Syracuse crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Syracuse, NY?

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Is Chicago, IL or Syracuse, NY Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chicago, IL is safer than Syracuse, NY (Safety Score 8/100 vs 4/100), with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100,000 versus 4,999 for Syracuse, NY — 20% lower. Chicago has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Syracuse has a 60% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 18.2x 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

Syracuse — 5-Year Trend

Flat 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 5/7

Syracuse, NY

Syracuse, NY
Safety Score 4/100
Coverage 145,175
Total Crime Rate 4,999.5
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Syracuse Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 4,999.5 -987.2
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 765.3 -225.4
Murder Rate 17.5 15.2 +2.3
Rape Rate 58.8 58.6 +0.2
Robbery Rate 335.3 133.6 +201.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 558.0 -429.6
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 4,234.2 -761.8
Burglary Rate 294.8 721.2 -426.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,638.2 -319.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 874.8 -15.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Syracuse, NY?

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 Syracuse safer?

Chicago, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 4,012 per 100K vs 4,999 for Syracuse, NY — a 20% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Syracuse has 765.3. 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 Syracuse, NY

Syracuse, a city in Central New York, is home to Syracuse University and its distinctive Carrier Dome. Located near Onondaga Lake, it experiences significant annual snowfall due to lake-effect weather. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 145,175, Syracuse has a total crime rate of 4,999.5 per 100,000 residents.

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