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Joliet, IL vs Ottawa, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Joliet crime rate · Ottawa crime rate

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Is Joliet, IL or Ottawa, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Joliet, IL is safer than Ottawa, IL (Safety Score 53/100 vs 51/100), with a total crime rate of 1,595 per 100,000 versus 1,683 for Ottawa, IL — 5% lower. Joliet has higher rates in 2 of 6 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ottawa has a 85% lower rate.

Note: Joliet is 8.0x 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 Joliet, IL?

Joliet — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Ottawa — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Joliet, IL

Joliet, IL
Safety Score 53/100
Coverage 150,569
Total Crime Rate 1,594.6
Category Wins 2/6

Ottawa, IL

Ottawa, IL
Safety Score 51/100
Coverage 18,722
Total Crime Rate 1,682.5
Category Wins 4/6

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Joliet Ottawa Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,594.6 1,682.5 -87.9
Violent Crime Rate 350.0 187.0 +163.1
Murder Rate 0.0 0.0 +0.0
Rape Rate 48.5 64.1 -15.6
Robbery Rate 35.2 5.3 +29.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 266.3 117.5 +148.8
Property Crime Rate 1,244.6 1,495.6 -251.0
Burglary Rate 389.9 288.4 +101.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 704.0 1,116.3 -412.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 150.8 90.8 +60.0

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

Moving from Joliet, IL to Ottawa, 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 Joliet or Ottawa safer?

Joliet, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,595 per 100K vs 1,683 for Ottawa, IL — a 5% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Joliet has a violent crime rate of 350.0 per 100K while Ottawa has 187.0. Ottawa has lower violent crime.

About Joliet, IL

Joliet, a former steel town on the Des Plaines River, boasts the historic Rialto Square Theatre. This city southwest of Chicago has a diverse population, with a significant Hispanic community. With a safety score of 53/100 and a population coverage of 150,569, Joliet has a total crime rate of 1,594.6 per 100,000 residents.

About Ottawa, IL

Ottawa, Illinois, nestled at the confluence of the Fox and Illinois Rivers, was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This LaSalle County seat has a population of around 18,000. With a safety score of 51/100 and a population coverage of 18,722, Ottawa has a total crime rate of 1,682.5 per 100,000 residents.

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