The Best Home Security Systems in Cook County, IL
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Cook County, IL? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Cook County, IL home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Cook County every 3 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Cook County experiences 28.53 property crimes per 1000 people and 5.563 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Cook County, IL
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Cook County. The combination of a high amount of renters (42%) and education level (41% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Cook County, IL?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Cook County, IL. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Cook County, IL and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Cook County, IL
Our analysis gives Cook County a property crime grade of: D-. Cook County is in the 89th percentile of safety, meaning 89% of cities in Illinois are safer and 11% are more dangerous. Please visit our Cook County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the eastern part of Cook County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 20. Compare this to the southwestern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 69.
D-
D- |
|
D- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
D |
A crime occurs every 2 minutes (on average) in Cook County, IL.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Cook County safe? Compared to all of Illinois, Cook County is rated as safe as the average Illinois county, which has a property crime rate of 23.11 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a similar pattern, where Cook County, with its burglary rate of 4.136 per 1000, is as safe as the average Illinois county.
In addition, Cook County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Cook County, IL.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Cook County, IL |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
21.37 |
116,236 |
2,235.3 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.857 |
15,535 |
298.8 |
Burglary |
4.136 |
22,492 |
432.5 |
Arson |
0.1625 |
884 |
17.0 |
Weather and Climate in Cook County, IL
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Cook County, IL
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Cook County, IL is 49.32 degrees, reaching 87.02 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 82.95 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Cook County was built in 1966, which is much older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Illinois build in 1973.
Between average seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Cook County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Cook County, IL
Cook County, IL gets an average rainfall of 1.0" per year. This is similar to the average of 1.0" for Illinois.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Cook County, IL
Cook County, IL reaches an average of 25.50 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 33.55 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Cook County is 57 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Illinois home that's 50 years old and much more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Cook County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Cook County, IL
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Cook County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 41.53% (2,191,122) of people in Cook County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 58.47% or 3,084,419 of Cook County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 66% of people who commute an average of 40 minutes to work in or around Cook County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 7% of Cook County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Cook County tend to have a higher median household income than nearby counties, earning $81,149 annually. In addition, 40.8% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Cook County is $294,386. Compared to the median home value in Illinois of $242,002, your home value will probably be higher. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Cook County, IL
There are 931 police stations within the boundaries of Cook County, and 193 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Cook County center, there are 824 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Cook County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| City Of Chicago 5701 West Madison St Chicago, IL 60644 (312) 743-1440 cityofchicago.org |
Chicago Police Department 5701 West Madison St Chicago, IL 60644 (773) 743-1440 |
Sheriff Cook County 4656 West Monroe St Chicago, IL 60644 (773) 921-0469 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Cook County, IL
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Cook County, IL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | A | A | more safe |
| Kane County, IL | A- | A | more safe |
| DeKalb County, IL | C | B- | more safe |
| Berrien County, MI | B- | C+ | more safe |
| Lee County, IL | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Cass County, MI | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Whiteside County, IL | B | B | more safe |
| St. Joseph County, MI | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Clinton County, IA | C | C | more safe |
| Branch County, MI | C | C+ | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Cook County, IL
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Cook County, IL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | F | F | less safe |
| Maricopa County, AZ | D- | F | about as safe |
| Los Angeles County, CA | D | C- | more safe |
| San Diego County, CA | F | F | about as safe |
| Harris County, TX | D+ | C- | more safe |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | F | F | about as safe |
| Kings County, NY | F | D- | about as safe |
| Dallas County, TX | D | D | about as safe |
| Denton County, TX | B- | B+ | more safe |
| Butler County, OH | F | F | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Cook County, IL
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Cook County, IL can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Cook County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, ADT, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Cook County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Cook County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 3 minutes in Cook County.
- The county experiences 28.53 property crimes and 5.563 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Cook County's property crime grade stands at an 'D-', comparably as safe as other Illinois {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Cook County. The combination of a high amount of renters (42%) and education level (41% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 87.02 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 25.50 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.0" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 57 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 41.53% of Cook County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 66% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Cook County's higher household median income of $81,149 and 40.8% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Cook County hosts 931 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.