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Chicago vs Virginia Beach Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Virginia Beach crime rate

Moving from Chicago, IL to Virginia Beach, VA?

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Is Chicago or Virginia Beach Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Virginia Beach is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 49/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 57% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Virginia Beach has a 91% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 5.8x 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

Virginia Beach — 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 0/7

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, VA
Safety Score 49/100
Coverage 455,155
Total Crime Rate 1,733.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Virginia Beach Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,733.3 +2,279.0
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 93.4 +446.5
Murder Rate 17.5 2.9 +14.6
Rape Rate 58.8 18.5 +40.3
Robbery Rate 335.3 31.6 +303.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 39.3 +89.0
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,639.9 +1,832.5
Burglary Rate 294.8 83.9 +210.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 1,446.8 +872.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 109.2 +749.7

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Virginia Beach, VA?

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 Virginia Beach safer?

Virginia Beach is safer with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 57% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Virginia Beach has 93.4. Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, a coastal city where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic, is home to the Naval Air Station Oceana, a major employer. Its population of nearly half a million is diverse, with significant military and retiree communities. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 455,155, Virginia Beach has a total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 residents.

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