Property Crime per Capita in Chicago
The property crime map below shows crimes per 1,000 Chicago residents.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C-
C |
|
Property Crime Grade |
C- |
Other Crime Grade |
C- |
$1.2 billion
Cost of Crime™ for Chicago, IL
In 2025, property crime will cost $320 per household.
Crime Grade's property crime map highlights the safest areas in the Chicago area in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
The C- grade indicates that the rate of property crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Chicago ranks in the 38th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 38% of cities but less safe than 62%. This analysis applies only to the Chicago area's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The property crime rate in the Chicago area is 15.08 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. the Chicago area residents generally consider the southwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in the Chicago area varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 42 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 109 in the southwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Chicago, IL see the most incidents - about 33,740 per year. In contrast, the south part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 5,698 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Chicago, IL
The total projected cost of crime in Chicago for 2025 is $1,167,117,177. This translates to approximately $120 per resident and $320 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.2% of the median household income in Chicago. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 59.9%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.4%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 5.7%
How Much Does Property Crime Cost in Chicago Compared to Other Cities?
| Chicago, IL: | $120 |
|---|---|
| East St. Louis, IL: | $250 |
| St. Joseph, IL: | $22 |
| Illinois: | $107 |
| USA: | $136 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Chicago is $120 per year, which is $16 less than the national average and $13 more than Illinois's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Chicago:
- In East St. Louis, IL, crime costs $250 per person, which is $130 more than in Chicago.
- In St. Joseph, IL, crime costs $22 per person, which is $98 less than in Chicago
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Chicago for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Chicago |
Cost per Chicago Resident |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle Theft |
$496.1 million |
$51 |
Burglary |
$148.9 million |
$15 |
Theft |
$505.6 million |
$52 |
Arson |
$16.6 million |
$2 |
Total Cost of Property Crime |
$1,167,117,177 |
$120 |
The Intangible Cost of Property Crime in Chicago, IL
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Chicago totals $0 ($0 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,167,117,177 ($120 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Property Crime Maps
When interpreting the the Chicago area property crime map, keep in mind that property crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the east part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate property crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which the Chicago area has 1, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which the Chicago area has 473, have the same problem. Of the Chicago area’s 9,731,835 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Chicago, IL at ISP Reports.Chicago Property Crime Breakdown
The table below shows which non-violent crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grade above. All property crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Chicago residents in a standard year.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
10.03 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.292 |
Burglary |
1.687 |
Arson |
0.0705 |
Total Property Crime |
15.08 (C-) |
Individual Chicago Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of property crime in the Chicago area is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to the Chicago area.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C | C | C- | |
C | C | C | |
C | C | C | |
C | B- | C | |
D+ | D+ | D | |
F | D+ | F | |
C+ | C+ | C+ | |
C+ | B- | C+ | |
C+ | C+ | C | |
D | C- | D |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
Chicago is lower versus other cities of the same size for property crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.
Similar City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D+ | D+ | D+ | |
D | D | D | |
C+ | B- | B- | |
B | C+ | C+ | |
C | C- | C- | |
C- | C | C | |
D | D | D | |
D+ | D | D | |
C | C- | C- | |
B | C | C |
Considering only the property crime rate, the Chicago area is as safe as the Illinois state average and safer than the national average.
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