Safest Cities in Illinois (2023)

Illinois Safety Analysis

• Illinois ranks #32 out of 51 states for safety, below the national median. Across 10 tracked cities totaling 4,786,762 residents, crime rates trend higher than the US average, though individual cities vary widely.
• The average violent crime rate across Illinois cities is 468 per 100K residents, which is 3% below the national average of 481/100K. This lower rate reflects relatively fewer assaults, robberies, and homicides compared to the rest of the country.
• Property crime averages 2,568/100K across Illinois, 19% below the national average of 3,153/100K. Residents face lower risk of burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft compared to most states.
• Crime in Illinois follows the typical national pattern: 85% property crimes and 15% violent crimes. Property offenses like larceny and burglary dominate, while violent crime remains the smaller but more impactful category.
• Chicago leads Illinois with a safety score of 76/100, making it one of the safest communities in the state. Cities scoring above 70 typically have violent crime rates less than half the national average.