F
75%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
287%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
35%
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 peopleRockford/100k peopleIllinois/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime5,964n/a (estimate)4,0651,9702,324
Murder16n/a10.97.86.3
Rape128n/a87.248.140.0
Robbery202n/a137.784.766.1
Assault1,752n/a1,194.2146.7268.2
Violent crime2,098n/a (estimate)1,430287370
Burglary626n/a426.7208.5269.8
Theft2,470n/a1,683.61,192.71,401.9
Vehicle theft770n/a524.8281.6282.7
Property crime3,866n/a (estimate)2,6351,6831,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Rockford, IL

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Rockford is 74.9% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Rockford, there were 2098 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 1430 per 100,000 individuals, 286.7% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 3866 property crimes, amounting to 2635 per 100,000 residents, 34.8% higher than the U.S. average.

With a crime rate of 4065 per 100,000 residents, Rockford has a crime rate that is 74.91% higher than the national average. This results in one of the highest total crime rates in the entire country. This does not necessarily mean that the entire city is unsafe. As with any area, there are some pockets in Rockford that are much safer than others. A little research will go a long way in determining which areas could potentially offer a safer living environment.

Rockford is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 1430 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Rockford is 1 in 70.

Although the murder rates in America have decreased steadily since 1990, over the last few years there has been an uptick. Rockford has one of the highest murder rates in the country when compared to all other cities that reported crime in the U.S. There were a total of 16 murders in Rockford, which is 11 murders per 100,000 people.

Recently, vehicle thefts have seen an upward trend across the United States, and Rockford ranks among the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. Last year, there were 770 vehicle thefts, amounting to 525 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Rockford within the worst 10% of all cities, indicating that 90% of cities fare better in terms of vehicle theft rates. The likelihood of your vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 191.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Rockford?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Rockford. Based on the results of the surveys (212 responses), 11% of people felt that there was very little crime in Rockford and felt safe walking alone at night. While 89% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Rockford a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Rockford 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, Rockford has an overall crime rate that is 75% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 16.34 daily occurrences, comprising 5.75 violent crimes and 10.59 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Rockford as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Rockford Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Rockford. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Rockford has increased by 3.1%. Violent crimes have decreased by 5.1%, while property crimes have increased by 8.2%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Rockford

Rockford reports an unemployment rate of 5.8%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Rockford crime rates.

High population density areas are often large urban centers with diverse economic opportunities. These areas can exacerbate income inequality, with pockets of poverty existing alongside affluence. Areas with economic disparities may experience higher property crimes and, in some cases, violent crimes. On the other hand, areas with low population density tend to see lower Rockford crime rates. The population density in Rockford is 2271.5 people per square mile, while the national average is 90.6 people per square mile.

The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Rockford, 76.9% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.

Rockford crime map



The Rockford crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Rockford 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 Rockford crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Rockford 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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Compare Rockford, IL Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Rockford crime rates are 75% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Rockford are 287% higher than the national average
      • In Rockford you have a 1 in 25 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Rockford is safer than 3% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Rockford has increased by 1%

      Rockford, IL Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Rockford

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        Daily Crime In Rockford (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Rockford, IL per 100,000 people. In Rockford, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 2.06 times more than the Illinois average and 1.75 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Rockford is 4.98 times more than the Illinois average and 3.87 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Rockford has a daily crime rate that is 1.57 times more than the Illinois average and 1.35 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Rockford (higher is better)

        How safe is Rockford, Illinois compared to other cities in Illinois and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Rockford is safer than 1% of the cities in Illinois and 3% 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 Rockford. Overall, Rockford is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Rockford

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Rockford is 1 in 70
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Rockford is 1 in 38
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Rockford is 1 in 25
        Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Rockford? If you reside in Rockford, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 70. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 38 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Rockford, is 1 in 25.

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

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Rockford, IL is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Rockford has decreased by 7%, while the property crime rate in Rockford has increased by 6% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Rockford has increased by 1% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Rockford police department

        Item Rockford Illinois National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)30130,690558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.02.63.3
        There are a total of 301 Rockford police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 25.3% less than the Illinois average and 39.2% less 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
        Timberlane, IL1,15862362424
        Durand, IL1,4930505505
        Pecatonica, IL1,95749538587
        Roscoe, IL10,63255546601
        Stillman Valley, IL1,348121710831
        Kirkland, IL1,524128749877
        Davis Junction, IL2,574140818958
        Rockford, IL147,4411,4302,6354,065

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Joliet, IL147,3235111,0191,530
        Naperville, IL147,73452814866
        Killeen, TX148,5735421,7472,288
        Bellevue, WA146,1451563,7863,943
        Savannah, GA145,4924762,1912,667
        Rockford, IL147,4411,4302,6354,065
        Source: The Rockford, 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.