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Chicago vs Westchester Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Westchester crime rate

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Is Chicago or Westchester Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Westchester is safer than Chicago (Safety Score 86/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 681 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago — 83% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Chicago is 166.4x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Westchester — 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

Westchester, IL

Westchester, IL
Safety Score 86/100
Coverage 15,856
Total Crime Rate 681.1
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Westchester Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 681.1 +3,331.1
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 56.8 +483.1
Murder Rate 17.5 0.0 +17.5
Rape Rate 58.8 6.3 +52.5
Robbery Rate 335.3 25.2 +310.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 25.2 +103.1
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 624.4 +2,848.0
Burglary Rate 294.8 63.1 +231.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 422.6 +1,896.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 138.8 +720.1

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Westchester, 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 Westchester safer?

Westchester is safer with a total crime rate of 681 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago — a 83% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Westchester has 56.8. Westchester 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 Westchester, IL

Westchester, a western Chicago suburb, is home to Wolf Road Prairie, a significant remnant of Illinois' original tallgrass prairie ecosystem. This residential community primarily comprises single-family homes, reflecting its mid-20th century development patterns. With a safety score of 86/100 and a population coverage of 15,856, Westchester has a total crime rate of 681.1 per 100,000 residents.

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