F
58%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
46%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
60%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleChicago/100k peopleIllinois/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime97,411n/a (estimate)3,6731,9702,324
Murder604n/a22.87.86.3
Rape1,374n/a51.848.140.0
Robbery8,948n/a337.484.766.1
Assault3,395n/a128.0146.7268.2
Violent crime14,321n/a (estimate)540287370
Burglary7,626n/a287.5208.5269.8
Theft54,273n/a2,046.41,192.71,401.9
Vehicle theft21,191n/a799.0281.6282.7
Property crime83,090n/a (estimate)3,1331,6831,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Chicago, IL

The Chicago crime rates are 58% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 14321 violent crimes in Chicago (540 per 100,000 people), which is 46% higher than the national average and there were a total of 83090 property crimes (3133 per 100,000 residents) which is 60.3% higher than average.

While murder rates in the United States have generally declined since 1990, recent years have seen an unfortunate uptick. Chicago stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates among cities reporting crime data. In Chicago, a total of 604 murders were reported, equating to 23 murders per 100,000 residents. This statistic underscores the challenges facing the area in terms of severe violent crime and the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security within the community.

Vehicle thefts across all of America are on the rise and Chicago has one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. In the most recent crime report, Chicago reported 21191 vehicle thefts, which equates to 799 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This falls in the bottom 10% of all cities, meaning that 90% of cities have better vehicle theft rates. The chance of having your vehicle stolen in Chicago is 1 in 126.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Chicago?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Chicago residents. Out of the respondents (734 in total), 29% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Chicago were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 71% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Chicago a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Chicago is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Chicago has an overall crime rate that is 58% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 266.88 daily occurrences, comprising 39.24 violent crimes and 227.64 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Chicago as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Chicago Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Chicago. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Chicago has decreased by 8.3%. Specifically, violent crime has decreased by 43.9%, while property crime has decreased by 2.9%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Chicago.

Chicago Neighborhood Crime Rates

There are more than 77 different neighborhoods in the Chicago area. Depending on their location and other socioeconomic factors, the rate of crime in each neighborhood is vastly different. Areas that are located near the center or downtown core, tend to be more densely populated and typically see higher crime rates. While neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city tend to be less densely populated and have lower unemployment and poverty rates. Some of the safer neighborhoods in Chicago include Forest Glen, Edison Park and North Center. While Fuller Park, West Garfield Park and Washington Park have a reported crime rate that is higher than average. This reinforces the need to do a quality check on multiple neighborhoods as their crime rates can be quite different.

Potential Causes for Crime in Chicago

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Chicago currently has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

Regions characterized by high population density frequently encompass expansive urban hubs that offer diverse economic prospects. In such areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, creating pockets of poverty alongside affluence. Economic disparities within these regions may correlate with elevated property crimes and, in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density numbers generally exhibit reduced Chicago crime rates. Chicago registers a population density of 11853.3 people per square mile, in contrast to the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Chicago has a median home price of $267,600, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Chicago crime map



The Chicago crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Chicago as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Chicago crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Chicago crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Crime Quick Facts

  • Chicago crime rates are 58% higher than the national average
  • Violent crimes in Chicago are 46% higher than the national average
  • In Chicago you have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of crime
  • Chicago is safer than 13% of the cities in the United States
  • Year over year crime in Chicago has decreased by 6%

Chicago, IL Crime Quiz

     

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        Daily Crime In Chicago (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Chicago for every 100,000 residents. The Chicago total amount of daily crime is 1.86 times more than the Illinois average and 1.58 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Chicago, is 1.88 times more than the Illinois average, and it is 1.46 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Chicago has a daily crime average that is 1.86 times more than the Illinois average and 1.60 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Chicago (higher is better)

        How safe is Chicago, Illinois compared to other cities in Illinois and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Chicago is safer than 5% of the cities in Illinois and 13% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in Illinois and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Chicago. Overall, Chicago is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Chicago

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Chicago is 1 in 186
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Chicago is 1 in 32
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Chicago is 1 in 28
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Chicago, Illinois you have a 1 in 186 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Chicago.

        Year Over Year Crime In Chicago (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Chicago is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Chicago has decreased by 43% and the rate of property crime in Chicago has increased by 5%. The total crime rate in Chicago has decreased by 6% year to year.

        Chicago police department

        Item Chicago Illinois National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)12,76630,690558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents4.72.63.3
        There are a total of 12,766 Chicago police officers. This results in 4.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 78% greater than the Illinois average and 45% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Illinois

        State Total offenders Illinois /100K National /100K
        Illinois32,213263266
        There are a total of 32,213 sex offenders in Illinois. This yields a total of 263 sex offenders in Illinois per 100,000 residents which is 1% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Golf, IL521000
        Stone Park, IL4,8429191182
        Kenilworth, IL2,3560333333
        Western Springs, IL13,2470372372
        Indian Head Park, IL3,74455321375
        Willow Springs, IL5,6100426426
        Palos Park, IL4,7790436436
        Chicago, IL2,699,3475403,1333,673

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Houston, TX2,313,2381,1424,5825,723
        Phoenix, AZ1,658,4228252,9023,727
        Philadelphia, PA1,581,5311,0414,3215,363
        San Antonio, TX1,529,1338835,0695,951
        Los Angeles, CA3,973,2788342,7083,543
        Chicago, IL2,699,3475403,1333,673
        Source: The Chicago, IL crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.