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Elgin, IL vs Houston, TX Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Elgin crime rate · Houston crime rate

Moving from Elgin, IL to Houston, TX?

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Is Elgin, IL or Houston, TX Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Elgin, IL is safer than Houston, TX (Safety Score 61/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,369 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston, TX — 75% lower. Elgin has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Elgin has a 89% lower rate.

Note: Houston is 20.5x 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 Elgin, IL?

Elgin — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Houston — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Elgin, IL

Elgin, IL
Safety Score 61/100
Coverage 112,879
Total Crime Rate 1,368.7
Category Wins 7/7

Houston, TX

Houston, TX
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 2,319,160
Total Crime Rate 5,441.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Elgin Houston Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,368.7 5,441.7 -4,073.0
Violent Crime Rate 266.7 1,148.3 -881.6
Murder Rate 4.4 13.8 -9.4
Rape Rate 64.7 73.0 -8.3
Robbery Rate 31.0 274.0 -243.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 166.6 787.4 -620.8
Property Crime Rate 1,102.1 4,293.5 -3,191.4
Burglary Rate 211.7 644.8 -433.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 804.4 2,945.7 -2,141.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 85.9 703.0 -617.1

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

Moving from Elgin, IL to Houston, TX?

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 Elgin or Houston safer?

Elgin, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,369 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston, TX — a 75% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Elgin has a violent crime rate of 266.7 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Elgin has lower violent crime.

About Elgin, IL

Elgin, Illinois, once known as "Watch City" due to the Elgin National Watch Company, is a Fox River community. Located in Kane and Cook counties, it's home to a diverse population of over 114,000 residents. With a safety score of 61/100 and a population coverage of 112,879, Elgin has a total crime rate of 1,368.7 per 100,000 residents.

About Houston, TX

Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.

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