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Chicago, IL vs Urbana, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Urbana crime rate

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Is Chicago, IL or Urbana, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Urbana, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 19/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,036 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 24% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Urbana has a 85% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 69.1x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Urbana — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat 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

Urbana, IL

Urbana, IL
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 38,204
Total Crime Rate 3,036.3
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Urbana Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 3,036.3 +975.9
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 544.5 -4.6
Murder Rate 17.5 2.6 +14.9
Rape Rate 58.8 55.0 +3.8
Robbery Rate 335.3 81.1 +254.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 405.7 -277.4
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 2,491.9 +980.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 486.9 -192.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,740.7 +578.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 264.4 +594.5

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Urbana, IL?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago or Urbana safer?

Urbana, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 3,036 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 24% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Urbana has 544.5. 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 Urbana, IL

Urbana, Illinois, home to a significant portion of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a Midwestern city with a rich agricultural history. Located in east-central Illinois, it attracts a diverse student and research-oriented population. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 38,204, Urbana has a total crime rate of 3,036.3 per 100,000 residents.

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