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Chicago vs Tuscaloosa Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Tuscaloosa crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL?

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Is Chicago or Tuscaloosa Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Tuscaloosa is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 15/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,285 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 18% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Tuscaloosa has a 82% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 23.2x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Tuscaloosa — 4-Year Trend

Increasing 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 2/7

Tuscaloosa, AL

Tuscaloosa, AL
Safety Score 15/100
Coverage 113,834
Total Crime Rate 3,284.6
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Tuscaloosa Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,284.6 +727.6
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 553.4 -13.6
Murder Rate 17.5 15.8 +1.7
Rape Rate 58.8 17.6 +41.2
Robbery Rate 335.3 59.7 +275.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 460.3 -332.0
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,731.2 +741.2
Burglary Rate 294.8 318.9 -24.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 2,159.3 +159.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 253.0 +605.9

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL?

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 Tuscaloosa safer?

Tuscaloosa is safer with a total crime rate of 3,285 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 18% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Tuscaloosa has 553.4. 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 Tuscaloosa, AL

Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, sits on the Black Warrior River in west-central Alabama. Its population is approximately 100,000, with a significant student presence. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 113,834, Tuscaloosa has a total crime rate of 3,284.6 per 100,000 residents.

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