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Chicago, IL vs Wheeling, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chicago crime rate · Wheeling crime rate

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Is Chicago, IL or Wheeling, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Wheeling, IL is safer than Chicago, IL (Safety Score 76/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 972 per 100,000 versus 4,012 for Chicago, IL — 76% lower. Chicago has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wheeling has a 97% lower rate.

Note: Chicago is 70.8x 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 SAFER than Chicago, IL?

Chicago — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Wheeling — 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

Wheeling, IL

Wheeling, IL
Safety Score 76/100
Coverage 37,251
Total Crime Rate 971.8
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chicago Wheeling Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,012.2 971.8 +3,040.5
Violent Crime Rate 539.9 64.4 +475.4
Murder Rate 17.5 2.7 +14.8
Rape Rate 58.8 29.5 +29.3
Robbery Rate 335.3 10.7 +324.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 128.3 18.8 +109.5
Property Crime Rate 3,472.4 907.4 +2,565.0
Burglary Rate 294.8 217.4 +77.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,318.8 585.2 +1,733.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 858.9 104.7 +754.2

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

Moving from Chicago, IL to Wheeling, 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 Wheeling safer?

Wheeling, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 972 per 100K vs 4,012 for Chicago, IL — a 76% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chicago has a violent crime rate of 539.9 per 100K while Wheeling has 64.4. Wheeling 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 Wheeling, IL

Wheeling, Illinois, once home to a significant German immigrant population, is a village in Cook and Lake counties. Situated about 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. With a safety score of 76/100 and a population coverage of 37,251, Wheeling has a total crime rate of 971.8 per 100,000 residents.

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