Is Houston or Wheeling Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Wheeling is safer than Houston (Safety Score 76/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 972 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 82% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wheeling has a 96% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 62.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Wheeling — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Wheeling, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Wheeling | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 971.8 | +4,469.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 64.4 | +1,083.8 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 2.7 | +11.1 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 29.5 | +43.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 10.7 | +263.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 18.8 | +768.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 907.4 | +3,386.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 217.4 | +427.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 585.2 | +2,360.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 104.7 | +598.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Wheeling safer?
Wheeling is safer with a total crime rate of 972 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 82% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Wheeling has 64.4. Wheeling has lower violent crime.
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.
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.