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Chicago vs Thornton Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Thornton crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Thornton, CO?

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Is Chicago or Thornton Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Thornton is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 18/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,114 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 22% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Thornton has a 92% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 18.1x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Thornton — 5-Year Trend

Flat 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 0/7

Thornton, CO

Thornton, CO
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 145,847
Total Crime Rate 3,114.2
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Thornton Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,114.2 +898.0
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 278.4 +261.5
Murder Rate 17.5 1.4 +16.1
Rape Rate 58.8 79.5 -20.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 49.4 +285.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 143.3 -15.0
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,835.9 +636.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 277.0 +17.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,067.9 +250.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 490.9 +367.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Thornton, CO?

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 Thornton safer?

Thornton is safer with a total crime rate of 3,114 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 22% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Thornton has 278.4. Thornton 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 Thornton, CO

Thornton, a northern Denver suburb, began as a post-WWII housing boom community. It spans parts of Adams and Weld counties, with a diverse, family-oriented population. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 145,847, Thornton has a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents.

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