Crime per Capita in Cook County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Cook County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C
Overall Crime Grade™
C+ |
|
C |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C- |
$3.1 billion
Cost of Crime™ for Cook County, IL
In 2025, crime will cost $1,453 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Cook County 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 Cook County, IL Safe?
The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. Cook County ranks in the 39th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 39% of counties but less safe than 61%. This analysis applies only to Cook County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Cook County is 34.14 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Cook County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Cook County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 19 in the northeast areas to 1 in 48 in the northwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Cook County, IL see the most incidents - about 37,887 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 5,488 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Cook County, IL
The total projected cost of crime in Cook County for 2025 is $3,053,846,353. This translates to approximately $561 per resident and $1,453 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Cook County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.5%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.5%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.0%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Cook County Compared to Other Counties?
| Cook County, IL: | $561 |
|---|---|
| St. Clair County, IL: | $471 |
| Kendall County, IL: | $224 |
| Illinois: | $420 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Cook County is $561 per year, which is $97 more than the national average and $141 more than Illinois's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Cook County:
- In St. Clair County, IL, crime costs $471 per person, which is $90 less than in Cook County.
- In Kendall County, IL, crime costs $224 per person, which is $337 less than in Cook County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Cook County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Cook County |
Cost per Cook County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$1.1 billion |
$193 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$243.4 million |
$45 |
Robbery |
$208.9 million |
$38 |
Assault |
$265.7 million |
$49 |
Kidnapping |
$24.9 million |
$5 |
Vehicle Theft |
$323.3 million |
$59 |
Burglary |
$92.4 million |
$17 |
Theft |
$336.7 million |
$62 |
Arson |
$9.41 million |
$2 |
Vandalism |
$364.4 million |
$67 |
Animal Cruelty |
$802,481 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$74.0 million |
$14 |
Identity Theft |
$58.0 million |
$11 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$3,053,846,353 |
$561 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Cook County, 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 Cook County totals $8,315,457,506 ($1,527 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $11,369,303,859 ($2,088 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 Cook County 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 county 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 Cook County has 2, 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 Cook County has 803, have the same problem. Of Cook County’s 5,446,021 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 Cook County, IL at ISP Reports.Cook County 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 Cook County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
1.699 |
Robbery |
1.219 |
Rape |
0.7371 |
Murder |
0.1028 |
Total Violent Crime |
3.758 (C+) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
11.94 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.833 |
Burglary |
1.870 |
Arson |
0.0715 |
Total Property Crime |
17.71 (C) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0755 |
Drug Crimes |
1.838 |
Vandalism |
9.365 |
Identity Theft |
1.376 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0199 |
Total "Other" Rate |
12.67 (C-) |
Individual Cook County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Cook County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Cook County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
B+ | A+ | B | |
A | A | A | |
A | A | A- | |
C | C- | C- | |
A- | A | B+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A | A+ | A- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A | A- | A |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Cook County is similar versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C | C- | C- | |
C- | D | D | |
B- | C | C | |
B- | C+ | C+ | |
D | D | D | |
A- | B | B | |
B | C- | C- | |
D | D+ | D+ | |
C- | B+ | B+ | |
F | C- | C- |
Considering only the crime rate, Cook County is less safe than the Illinois state average and less safe than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Cook County, IL average SchoolGrade of D-, with 20% actual proficiency versus 25% projected; overall, schools don't meet expectations. See Cook County schools on SchoolGrade
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