Top 10 most dangerous cities in Illinois

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Illinois, a state known for its bustling cities and rich cultural heritage, offers a diverse range of attractions. From the vibrant city life of Chicago with its iconic skyline and deep-dish pizza to the tranquil beauty of the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to politics, music, and literature. However, despite its many positives, Illinois faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Illinois are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Illinois' cultural richness and urban crime issues highlights the state's diverse landscape.

Addressing safety concerns in Illinois involves a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs designed to reduce violence and improve public safety. These initiatives are crucial in tackling the safety issues that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Illinois. While these areas present significant challenges, they also showcase the potential for positive change and community revitalization. Illinois' ongoing efforts to improve safety, coupled with its rich cultural heritage and economic opportunities, continue to make it an appealing place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's numerous attractions reflects Illinois' commitment to fostering a secure and vibrant community.

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Danville Population: 31,689 1,684 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,361

Danville, IL holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Illinois with 1,684 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,423), robbery (82), rape (176) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 482% higher than the Illinois average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Peoria Population: 115,301 1,345 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,629

The second most dangerous city is Peoria. With a population of 115,301 and a violent crime rate that is 365% higher than the Illinois average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Peoria are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,345 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Chicago Heights Population: 30,540 1,232 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,965

Home to 30,540 residents, Chicago Heights, IL ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Illinois. Unfortunately for residents of Chicago Heights, crime is widespread, with more than 1,232 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.38 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 326% higher than the Illinois violent crime rate.

Rockford Population: 151,169 1,080 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,597

With a violent crime rate that is 273% higher than the Illinois average, it's not hard to see why Rockford made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (107), assault (891), rape (70) and homicide (13). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Rockford more vulnerable to high crime.

Carbondale Population: 26,321 1,005 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,690

The ongoing battle with crime in Carbondale, IL, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,005 and a 1 in 100 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Carbondale has a violent crime rate that is 247% higher than the Illinois average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Carbondale.

Calumet Park Population: 8,694 987 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,510

Calumet Park, IL comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 987 per 100,000 people, which is 241% higher than the Illinois average. Calumet Park has a population of 8,694, which translates to 2.70 crimes per day and 1 in 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Calumet Park which are much safer than others.

Alton Population: 27,407 963 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,632

A 1 in 104 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.64 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Alton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 963 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 233% higher than the Illinois average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (697), robbery (117), rape (137) and homicide (12).

Springfield Population: 117,426 901 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,813

Springfield, IL is another one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 117,426 and a violent crime rate of 901 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 653 counts of assault, 134 counts of robbery, 106 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Springfield violent crime rate is 212% higher than the Illinois average.

Peoria Heights Population: 6,052 807 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 124 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,474

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Peoria Heights, IL comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Illinois with a violent crime rate of 807 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.21 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 124 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Riverdale Population: 12,878 709 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,567

Rounding out our list at #10 is Riverdale, IL. With a population of 12,878 and a violent crime rate of 709 per 100,000 people (145% higher than the Illinois average), some parts of Riverdale are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 430 counts of assault, 130 counts of robbery, 80 counts of rape and 70 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 141 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Illinois

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Danville	31,689	1,684	7,361
2	Peoria	115,301	1,345	5,629
3	Chicago Heights	30,540	1,232	3,965
4	Rockford	151,169	1,080	3,597
5	Carbondale	26,321	1,005	4,690
6	Calumet Park	8,694	987	4,510
7	Alton	27,407	963	3,632
8	Springfield	117,426	901	5,813
9	Peoria Heights	6,052	807	3,474
10	Riverdale	12,878	709	3,567
11	Harvey	24,931	706	2,217
12	Centralia	12,756	664	3,243
13	Granite City	29,235	618	3,108
14	Decatur	74,163	602	3,470
15	Rock Falls	9,152	597	3,569
16	Paris	8,806	577	2,033
17	Rantoul	13,263	549	2,324
18	Urbana	43,747	544	3,036
19	Rock Island	38,640	544	3,259
20	Hazel Crest	14,284	540	3,233
21	Chicago	2,804,582	540	4,012
22	Belleville	42,499	532	2,344
23	Mattoon	17,637	528	1,731
24	Galesburg	31,538	513	3,478
25	Fairfield	5,038	511	3,237
26	Champaign	90,911	502	2,781
27	Marion	18,022	469	3,399
28	Summit	11,472	469	1,999
29	Zion	24,329	453	1,446
30	East Alton	6,165	447	2,055
31	Waukegan	90,063	445	2,060
32	Carlinville	5,804	438	3,303
33	Blue Island	23,702	434	3,121
34	Carmi	5,016	431	1,574
35	Milan	5,168	426	2,232
36	Forest Park	14,099	416	3,247
37	Fairview Heights	16,620	408	3,436
38	Sauk Village	10,669	406	1,741
39	DeKalb	44,075	393	2,907
40	Lansing	28,675	392	2,230
41	Herrin	13,309	388	2,928
42	Salem	7,259	386	1,531
43	Hoopeston	5,383	385	2,374
44	Moline	42,715	384	3,718
45	Bartonville	6,331	384	2,408
46	Monmouth	9,066	366	1,738
47	Freeport	24,837	363	1,769
48	Charleston	20,693	360	2,153
49	Loves Park	24,142	356	1,737
50	Joliet	152,137	350	1,595

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Illinois is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Illinois cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.