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Chicago, IL vs Washington, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Washington crime rate

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Is Chicago, IL or Washington, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Washington, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 66/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,225 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 69% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Washington has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 167.4x 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

Washington — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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 0/7

Washington, IL

Washington, IL
Safety Score 66/100
Coverage 15,760
Total Crime Rate 1,224.6
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Washington Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 1,224.6 +2,787.6
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 95.2 +444.7
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 19.0 +39.7
Robbery Rate 335.3 6.4 +328.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 69.8 +58.5
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 1,129.4 +2,343.0
Burglary Rate 294.8 101.5 +193.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 996.2 +1,322.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 31.7 +827.1

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Washington, IL?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago or Washington safer?

Washington, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,225 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 69% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Washington has 95.2. Washington 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 Washington, IL

Washington, Illinois, a city in Tazewell County known for its annual Cherry Festival, sits just east of Peoria. This community of around 16,000 residents is primarily a residential area with a strong local economy. With a safety score of 66/100 and a population coverage of 15,760, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,224.6 per 100,000 residents.

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