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Naperville, IL vs Sterling, IL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Naperville crime rate · Sterling crime rate

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Is Naperville, IL or Sterling, IL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Naperville, IL is safer than Sterling, IL (Safety Score 76/100 vs 51/100), with a total crime rate of 967 per 100,000 versus 1,653 for Sterling, IL — 41% lower. Naperville has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Naperville has a 97% lower rate.

Note: Naperville is 10.5x 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 Naperville, IL?

Naperville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Sterling — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Naperville, IL

Naperville, IL
Safety Score 76/100
Coverage 150,521
Total Crime Rate 967.3
Category Wins 7/7

Sterling, IL

Sterling, IL
Safety Score 51/100
Coverage 14,400
Total Crime Rate 1,652.8
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Naperville Sterling Difference
Total Crime Rate 967.3 1,652.8 -685.5
Violent Crime Rate 83.7 319.4 -235.7
Murder Rate 0.7 20.8 -20.2
Rape Rate 29.9 97.2 -67.3
Robbery Rate 15.3 20.8 -5.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 37.9 180.6 -142.7
Property Crime Rate 883.6 1,333.3 -449.7
Burglary Rate 65.8 333.3 -267.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 755.4 840.3 -84.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 62.5 159.7 -97.3

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

Moving from Naperville, IL to Sterling, 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 Naperville or Sterling safer?

Naperville, IL is safer with a total crime rate of 967 per 100K vs 1,653 for Sterling, IL — a 41% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Naperville has a violent crime rate of 83.7 per 100K while Sterling has 319.4. Naperville has lower violent crime.

About Naperville, IL

Naperville, a large Chicago suburb, is home to the Riverwalk, a scenic parkway along the DuPage River. This affluent community boasts a highly educated population and a thriving economy, contributing to its reputation as a desirable place to live. With a safety score of 76/100 and a population coverage of 150,521, Naperville has a total crime rate of 967.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Sterling, IL

Sterling, Illinois, a city in Whiteside County along the Rock River, was once known as the "Hardware Capital of the World." This industrial heritage is reflected in its diverse population of around 15,000 residents. With a safety score of 51/100 and a population coverage of 14,400, Sterling has a total crime rate of 1,652.8 per 100,000 residents.

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