The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Chicago, IL: Crime Maps and Statistics

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C
Property Crime Grade	C-
Other Crime Grade	C-

Which crimes are included?

$4.4 billion

Cost of Crime™ for Chicago, IL

In 2025, crime will cost $1,217 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's 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.

Is Chicago, IL Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of 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 crime rate in the Chicago area is 28.17 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 crime in the Chicago area varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 21 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 58 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 68,268 per year. In contrast, the south part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 9,839 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Chicago, IL

The total projected cost of crime in Chicago for 2025 is $4,434,972,464. This translates to approximately $456 per resident and $1,217 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.9% 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): 54.0%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 33.9%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.0%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Chicago Compared to Other Cities?

Chicago, IL:	$456
East St. Louis, IL:	$1106
Germantown Hills, IL:	$156
Illinois:	$420
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Chicago is $456 per year, which is $9 less than the national average and $36 more than Illinois's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Chicago:

In East St. Louis, IL, crime costs $1,106 per person, which is $650 more than in Chicago.
In Germantown Hills, IL, crime costs $156 per person, which is $300 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
Murder	$1.4 billion	$147
Rape/Sexual Assault	$419.4 million	$43
Robbery	$290.4 million	$30
Assault	$382.0 million	$39
Kidnapping	$48.5 million	$5
Vehicle Theft	$496.1 million	$51
Burglary	$148.9 million	$15
Theft	$505.6 million	$52
Arson	$16.6 million	$2
Vandalism	$478.0 million	$49
Animal Cruelty	$1.84 million	$0
Drug Crimes	$135.0 million	$14
Identity Theft	$85.3 million	$9
Total Cost of Crime	$4,434,972,464	$456

The Intangible Cost of 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 $11,721,642,401 ($1,204 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $16,156,614,865 ($1,660 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 Crime Maps

When interpreting the the Chicago area crime map, keep in mind that 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 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 Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Chicago residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	1.367
Robbery	0.9486
Rape	0.7107
Murder	0.0781
Total Violent Crime	3.104 (C)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	10.03
Vehicle Theft	3.292
Burglary	1.687
Arson	0.0705
Total Property Crime	15.08 (C-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0822
Drug Crimes	1.876
Vandalism	6.875
Identity Theft	1.132
Animal Cruelty	0.0256
Total "Other" Rate	9.990 (C-)

Individual Chicago Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of 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
Cicero, IL	C	C	C-
Oak Park, IL	C	C	C
Berwyn, IL	C	C	C
Stickney, IL	C	B-	C
Forest Park, IL	D+	D+	D
Forest View, IL	F	D+	F
River Forest, IL	C+	C+	C+
Riverside, IL	C+	B-	C+
Elmwood Park, IL	C+	C+	C
North Riverside, IL	D	C-	D

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Chicago is similar versus other cities of the same size for 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
Dallas, TX	D+	D+	D+
Houston, TX	D	D	D
Philadelphia, PA	C+	B-	B-
Miami, FL	B	C+	C+
Atlanta, GA	C	C-	C-
Washington, DC	C-	C	C
San Francisco, CA	D	D	D
Los Angeles, CA	D+	D	D
Phoenix, AZ	C	C-	C-
Boston, MA	B	C	C

Considering only the crime rate, the Chicago area is as safe as the Illinois state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Chicago, IL average SchoolGrade of D, with 25% actual proficiency versus 30% projected; overall, schools don't meet expectations. See Chicago schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.