The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Lake County, MI: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Lake County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Lake County.

 

Lake County, MI Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

C

Overall Crime Grade™

D-
C-
Other Crime Grade
B

$7.03 million

Cost of Crime™ for Lake County, MI

In 2025, crime will cost $1,334 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Lake 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 Lake County, MI Safe?

The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. Lake County ranks in the 42nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 42% of counties but less safe than 58%. This analysis applies only to Lake County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Lake County is 33.04 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Lake County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Lake County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 21 in the south areas to 1 in 48 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Lake County, MI see the most incidents - about 167 per year. In contrast, the north part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 12 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Lake County, MI

The total projected cost of crime in Lake County for 2025 is $7,033,475. This translates to approximately $537 per resident and $1,334 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 2.0% of the median household income in Lake County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.2%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.3%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.4%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Lake County Compared to Other Counties?

Lake County, MI: $537
Wayne County, MI: $853
Ottawa County, MI: $197
Michigan: $487
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Lake County is $537 per year, which is $73 more than the national average and $50 more than Michigan's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Lake County:
  • In Wayne County, MI, crime costs $853 per person, which is $316 more than in Lake County.
  • In Ottawa County, MI, crime costs $197 per person, which is $340 less than in Lake County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Lake County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Lake County
Cost per Lake County Resident
Murder
$1.83 million
$139
Rape/Sexual Assault
$821,583
$63
Robbery
$329,047
$25
Assault
$1.61 million
$123
Kidnapping
$84,351
$6
Vehicle Theft
$91,018
$7
Burglary
$549,511
$42
Theft
$919,434
$70
Arson
$48,321
$4
Vandalism
$514,422
$39
Animal Cruelty
$9,878
$1
Drug Crimes
$159,758
$12
Identity Theft
$73,457
$6
Total Cost of Crime
$7,033,475
$537

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Lake County, MI

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 Lake County totals $16,625,360 ($1,269 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $23,658,836 ($1,807 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 Lake 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 central 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 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 Lake County has 5, have the same problem. Of Lake County’s 13,096 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 Lake County, MI at ISP Reports.

Lake 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 Lake County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
4.270
Robbery
0.7988
Rape
1.035
Murder
0.0742
Total Violent Crime
6.178 (D-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
13.56
Vehicle Theft
0.4488
Burglary
4.626
Arson
0.1528
Total Property Crime
18.78 (C-)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1062
Drug Crimes
1.649
Vandalism
5.498
Identity Theft
0.7247
Animal Cruelty
0.1020
Total "Other" Rate
8.081 (B)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Lake County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Lake County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A-
C
A-
A-
B
A-
A-
C+
B+
A
C
A+
B+
C
B+
A
B
A-
A+
B+
A+
A+
A-
A+
B-
D
C+
B+
C
A-

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Lake 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
B+
C+
C+
B
A-
A-
D-
D-
D-
D+
C-
C-
A-
B
B
C-
D+
D+
C
C-
C-
D
C
C
F
D
D
A+
A+
A+

Considering only the crime rate, Lake County is less safe than the Michigan 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 Lake County, MI average SchoolGrade of D, with 28% actual proficiency versus 28% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Lake County 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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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 20 hours 14 minutes in Lake County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Lake County, MI

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.