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Los Angeles, CA vs Ottawa, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Los Angeles crime rate · Ottawa crime rate

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Ottawa, IL?

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Is Los Angeles, CA or Ottawa, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Ottawa, IL is safer than Los Angeles, CA (Safety Score 51/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 1,683 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles, CA — 24% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Los Angeles is 202.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Los Angeles, CA?

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Ottawa — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 3,796,352
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5
Category Wins 2/7

Ottawa, IL

Ottawa, IL
Safety Score 51/100
Coverage 18,722
Total Crime Rate 1,682.5
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Angeles Ottawa Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5 1,682.5 +530.0
Violent Crime Rate 728.5 187.0 +541.6
Murder Rate 7.0 0.0 +7.0
Rape Rate 40.3 64.1 -23.8
Robbery Rate 209.9 5.3 +204.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 471.4 117.5 +353.9
Property Crime Rate 1,483.9 1,495.6 -11.6
Burglary Rate 372.8 288.4 +84.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 851.5 1,116.3 -264.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 259.6 90.8 +168.8

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

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Ottawa, IL?

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 Los Angeles or Ottawa safer?

Ottawa, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,683 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles, CA — a 24% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Ottawa has 187.0. Ottawa has lower violent crime.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 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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