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Safest Cities in Illinois

Safest Cities in Illinois

Based upon data reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, AdvisorSmith discovered the safest cities in the state of Illinois. In our study, we calculated a crime score for cities across the state that was based upon the levels of reported crimes in each city, as well as the composition of the crimes. More serious crimes, such as rape, murder, and assault, were given higher weights than property crimes. Across the state, the average crime score was 40, and crime scores for cities in the state ranged from as low as 3 to as high as 754.

We analyzed data for 547 cities in Illinois in order to find the safest cities in the state. To provide greater comparability among cities of similar characteristics, we divided the cities in the state into small, midsize, and large cities based upon population. There were 342 small cities examined, all of which had populations under 10,000. A total of 177 midsize cities, with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 residents were ranked, and 28 large cities with over 50,000 residents were also studied.

Safest Large Cities in Illinois

In total, our study considered crime reports from 28 large cities in the state of Illinois, all of which had populations of at least 50,000 residents. The average crime score in large cities was 44, ranging from 9 in the safest city, up to a high of 131 in the city with the most reported crime.

The safest large city in Illinois is Palatine. This city is located in the northwestern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area. The city is largely suburban in character and has a well-developed downtown business district. Some of the corporations headquartered in the city include the Square D corporation and Weber Stephens barbecue grills. The city also offers numerous recreational activities including parks, golf courses, and bicycle trails.

Rockford, Illinois had the most crime among large cities in the state. Located in northern central Illinois on the banks of the Rock River, the city was historically a manufacturing center, having produced heavy machinery, hardware, and furniture in the past. Today, the city continues to be a center for automotive and aerospace manufacturing.

The table below shows the safest large cities in the state, including the levels of violent and property crimes, as well as each city’s crime score and ranking.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Palatine0.64.59.0
2Arlington Heights0.48.011.2
3Mount Prospect0.58.612.5
4Wheaton0.811.517.4
5Des Plaines0.911.017.6
6Hoffman Estates1.38.518.0
7Orland Park0.416.319.1
8Bolingbrook1.78.820.4
9Naperville0.916.222.5
10Oak Lawn1.514.924.7
11Berwyn2.110.925.7
12Schaumburg1.021.328.9
13Elgin2.616.433.7
14Evanston1.626.235.9
15Normal2.817.036.7
16Aurora3.915.240.8
17Cicero3.219.440.9
18Skokie2.429.645.1
19Waukegan3.822.346.2
20Bloomington5.014.046.3
21Oak Park3.030.549.4
22Joliet5.515.750.6
23Decatur5.327.663.0
24Champaign9.324.884.0
25Chicago9.429.889.7
26Springfield7.844.495.1
27Peoria10.437.5103.4
28Rockford35.533.3131.3

Safest Midsize Cities in Illinois

The average crime score for midsize cities in Illinois was 35. For midsize cities, which included those with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 residents, the minimum crime score was 4, while the maximum crime score was 355.

The safest midsize city in Illinois was Campton Hills. This city is a suburb on the western outskirts of the Chicago metropolitan area. The city has a semi-rural character with high median incomes and high-quality public schools. The city has just over 11,000 residents.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Campton Hills0.31.93.5
2Lindenhurst0.32.96.2
3Homer Glen0.25.06.5
4Winnetka0.16.46.9
5Huntley0.25.86.9
6Justice0.34.77.2
7Glen Carbon0.36.68.4
8La Grange Park0.56.18.8
9Lake Forest0.46.38.9
10South Elgin0.74.49.1
11Deerfield0.47.09.3
12Lake In The Hills0.73.69.3
13Lisle0.46.39.3
14Park Ridge0.37.910.0
15Wilmette0.38.110.3
16Chatham0.57.010.5
17Palos Heights0.48.110.8
18Cary0.57.810.9
19Western Springs0.29.711.1
20Geneva0.76.611.2
21Warrenville0.86.811.9
22Edwardsville0.67.712.0
23Round Lake0.96.612.0
24Mundelein0.77.112.2
25Prospect Heights1.14.912.6
26Roscoe1.06.112.8
27Libertyville0.211.713.0
28Grayslake0.68.513.0
29Hinsdale0.311.513.4
30Buffalo Grove0.410.513.6
31Glen Ellyn0.78.713.6
32Morton Grove0.88.513.6
33Highland Park1.07.013.6
34Darien0.510.013.9
35Palos Hills1.16.613.9
36Carpentersville0.610.114.0
37Oswego0.69.514.1
38Charleston1.64.214.1
39Lockport0.88.314.3
40La Grange0.610.514.4
41Roselle0.87.714.4
42Bartlett0.97.714.8
43Glenview1.18.315.0
44Plainfield1.35.915.2
45Carol Stream0.710.415.5
46Lake Zurich0.412.415.6
47St. Charles1.36.415.6
48Elmhurst0.710.215.7
49Rolling Meadows0.810.715.8
50Columbia1.65.916.1
51Wheeling0.710.716.1
52Morton1.94.816.3
53Lemont1.08.916.4
54Frankfort0.811.016.5
55Northbrook0.314.516.6
56Woodstock0.711.316.6
57Woodridge1.19.016.7
58Itasca0.810.916.8
59Westchester1.29.116.9
60Westmont0.612.917.2
61Glendale Heights0.811.017.3
62Antioch1.29.717.4
63Tinley Park0.514.617.8
64Bensenville0.910.718.1
65Yorkville1.46.918.2
66West Chicago1.48.118.5
67Mchenry1.58.518.5
68Sycamore1.211.019.4
69Shorewood1.48.519.8
70Troy1.47.120.0
71Mokena0.814.920.1
72Lyons1.59.520.2
73Crystal Lake1.112.320.3
74Elk Grove Village0.914.020.3
75Burbank1.98.620.6
76Vernon Hills0.716.221.0
77Algonquin1.013.721.0
78Shiloh1.014.321.2
79Downers Grove0.914.821.2
80Batavia1.312.821.4
81Streamwood1.510.521.4
82Wood Dale0.914.921.4
83Washington1.69.921.7
84Taylorville1.116.022.7
85Hanover Park1.512.522.7
86New Lenox1.114.122.8
87Oak Forest1.910.423.2
88North Aurora1.414.023.2
89Lincolnwood1.116.523.6
90Romeoville2.010.123.7
91Ottawa1.515.124.5
92Villa Park1.613.624.9
93Franklin Park2.310.325.3
94Addison2.011.526.2
95Hickory Hills1.514.026.3
96Bloomingdale0.919.826.4
97O'Fallon1.814.226.7
98Swansea1.516.127.1
99Morris1.118.827.2
100Elmwood Park2.711.127.2
101Lombard1.021.227.6
102Belvidere2.510.327.9
103River Forest1.121.328.0
104Pontiac2.513.228.2
105Crest Hill2.710.729.5
106Niles1.221.429.5
107Worth2.96.629.6
108Midlothian1.520.429.7
109Canton2.99.630.0
110Round Lake Beach1.520.330.3
111Schiller Park2.316.730.7
112Bourbonnais2.912.932.2
113Melrose Park3.012.732.9
114Chicago Ridge1.224.733.1
115Norridge0.928.233.7
116Northlake1.622.733.8
117Freeport2.121.035.7
118Machesney Park2.518.535.7
119Bridgeview2.619.536.6
120Macomb3.414.537.2
121East Moline3.115.437.4
122East Peoria3.118.238.7
123Lincoln3.217.739.2
124Dixon2.518.440.0
125Herrin3.319.541.1
126Montgomery2.623.241.5
127Alsip2.823.742.3
128Gurnee1.332.642.4
129Collinsville2.922.742.5
130Loves Park3.418.442.6
131Mattoon4.79.944.6
132Rantoul2.525.045.0
133Pekin4.119.346.3
134Urbana2.925.946.5
135Streator2.820.846.9
136Rock Island3.723.447.2
137Sterling1.833.848.4
138Summit4.815.649.2
139Bradley2.732.949.3
140Park Forest4.717.949.8
141Blue Island5.514.350.5
142Country Club Hills2.733.551.5
143Richton Park4.522.152.9
144Fairview Heights2.536.153.1
145South Holland3.626.853.9
146Homewood1.942.856.3
147Jacksonville4.130.458.2
148Moline5.323.558.5
149Maywood5.820.260.1
150Marion5.922.062.3
151Effingham5.425.662.4
152Calumet City5.128.863.9
153Bellwood6.823.065.7
154Belleville5.526.765.7
155Zion5.527.165.9
156Hazel Crest4.536.066.1
157Evergreen Park3.243.767.2
158Dekalb5.830.368.9
159Kewanee4.539.269.9
160Chicago Heights7.719.570.2
161Forest Park4.441.570.6
162Quincy6.130.372.5
163Galesburg4.641.373.4
164Granite City8.223.177.5
165Lansing3.854.278.5
166Riverdale8.726.983.4
167Wood River6.040.683.8
168Cahokia6.045.486.5
169East St. Louis10.215.886.6
170Kankakee9.133.793.6
171Carbondale8.236.994.1
172Alton10.241.8108.2
173Matteson13.028.0109.9
174Plano11.56.0114.6
175Mount Vernon14.549.4141.8
176Danville17.544.7157.1
177Sauk Village54.922.0355.0

Safest Small Cities in Illinois

Among small cities with under 10,000 residents, the safest small city was Inverness. This city is also a suburb in the northwest region of the Chicago metropolitan area. The city maintains a rural character and has only one major business district, Williamsburg Village. The rest of the city is a quiet residential community, with a population of about 7,400 residents.

The average crime score for small cities in Illinois was 42. Crime scores for small cities ranged from as low as 3 to as high as 754. In the following table, we list 342 small cities in the state of Illinois, along with information about their levels of reported violent and property crime.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Inverness0.02.92.9
2Hawthorn Woods0.32.03.5
3Gilberts0.14.25.0
4Orland Hills0.24.25.3
5Palos Park0.34.05.5
6Sleepy Hollow0.05.85.8
7Round Lake Park0.53.16.2
8Marquette Heights0.06.46.4
9Elburn0.35.06.5
10Smithton0.06.76.7
11Carterville0.34.36.9
12Spring Grove0.63.46.9
13Benton0.62.37.0
14Manhattan0.16.27.1
15Somonauk0.07.47.4
16South Barrington0.26.37.5
17Lakewood0.36.07.6
18Hinckley0.07.97.9
19Erie0.08.08.0
20Mascoutah0.36.58.1
21Lake Villa0.64.88.2
22Clarendon Hills0.65.08.4
23Glencoe0.27.28.6
24Oglesby0.08.78.7
25Winthrop Harbor0.84.08.8
26Hometown0.94.09.1
27Valmeyer0.09.69.6
28Peotone0.09.99.9
29Homer0.010.310.3
30Riverwoods0.37.010.4
31Mount Morris0.48.310.4
32Kildeer0.010.410.4
33Lake Bluff0.29.610.7
34Chenoa1.05.211.0
35Barrington Hills0.011.011.0
36Winfield1.21.211.1
37Greenville0.86.411.1
38New Berlin0.011.311.3
39Stickney0.67.611.8
40Freeburg0.86.811.9
41Chester1.32.911.9
42Ladd0.012.012.0
43Pingree Grove0.75.812.1
44Brighton0.87.312.2
45Fisher0.012.212.2
46Fairmont City0.012.512.5
47Coal City0.85.912.5
48Vienna0.012.512.5
49Downs0.012.612.6
50Cortland0.59.812.6
51Tolono0.66.312.7
52Mount Carroll0.012.812.8
53Channahon0.78.013.1
54Winnebago0.311.113.2
55Hudson0.013.213.2
56Mahomet1.15.613.3
57Willow Springs0.410.213.3
58Northfield0.411.313.5
59Aledo0.013.613.6
60Rock Falls0.89.013.8
61Auburn2.11.513.9
62Highwood0.87.414.0
63Blue Mound0.014.014.0
64Carthage0.510.914.2
65Witt0.014.214.2
66Stonington0.014.214.2
67Sherman1.17.614.3
68Orion1.08.614.4
69Cambridge1.37.114.8
70Highland0.99.414.8
71La Harpe0.014.914.9
72Bunker Hill0.015.015.0
73Pleasant Plains0.015.115.1
74Lakemoor0.412.915.2
75Hampshire1.74.415.3
76La Salle0.611.615.3
77Marshall1.09.115.4
78Maryville1.27.715.7
79Byron1.010.016.1
80Christopher1.19.616.2
81Fox River Grove0.511.616.4
82West Dundee0.412.916.5
83Rochester1.37.416.5
84Elizabeth0.016.616.6
85East Dundee0.712.816.9
86Trenton1.57.717.0
87Catlin0.812.417.0
88Sumner1.84.417.0
89Ridge Farm0.017.117.1
90Lebanon0.712.917.1
91Bethalto1.18.117.2
92Sandwich2.04.217.5
93Hopedale0.017.517.5
94Barrington0.415.417.6
95Island Lake1.58.217.8
96Petersburg0.714.218.3
97Indian Head Park0.513.718.3
98West Frankfort0.316.818.4
99Yates City0.018.418.4
100Braidwood1.65.518.4
101Monticello2.24.818.5
102Bluffs0.018.518.5
103Pinckneyville2.25.218.6
104Breese1.39.618.7
105North Pekin1.012.818.7
106Marengo1.37.518.8
107Riverside1.010.419.0
108Momence0.417.019.1
109Gibson City2.05.319.1
110Wayne1.97.619.1
111Du Quoin2.54.719.5
112Oakwood1.112.619.5
113Berkeley1.212.719.8
114Dwight1.111.019.9
115New Baden1.312.520.5
116Johnsburg0.812.920.5
117Monee0.814.720.9
118Tonica0.020.920.9
119Le Roy1.87.420.9
120Pittsfield1.311.421.2
121Mendota1.79.321.4
122Beecher2.16.421.5
123Hainesville1.211.821.5
124Martinsville0.021.921.9
125Glenwood1.711.221.9
126Athens2.19.422.0
127Toluca1.612.622.1
128Kenilworth0.022.322.3
129Flora1.215.022.4
130Shawneetown1.215.522.7
131Marseilles2.110.322.7
132Genoa1.710.322.8
133Fairbury2.95.422.9
134Grand Ridge0.023.023.0
135Energy0.023.423.4
136Maroa1.211.723.4
137Thomasboro1.614.123.5
138New Athens1.89.123.6
139Bannockburn0.023.923.9
140Arthur1.017.824.1
141Golf0.024.224.2
142Altamont1.410.124.4
143Waverly0.025.025.0
144Mount Carmel1.118.225.0
145Neoga2.88.425.2
146Pawnee2.75.525.5
147Cambria2.311.725.8
148Durand1.78.625.9
149Mount Zion1.910.325.9
150Round Lake Heights2.012.026.0
151Red Bud3.45.626.1
152Richmond1.912.526.2
153Fithian0.026.426.4
154Elwood1.612.826.6
155Gilman0.722.926.8
156Coal Valley1.517.926.8
157Fulton1.518.027.0
158Elmwood2.48.327.3
159Harvard2.114.027.4
160Rockton1.117.227.4
161Maple Park0.027.527.5
162Spring Valley2.57.227.7
163Cowden0.027.827.8
164Greenup2.214.727.9
165Rossville1.419.628.0
166Stockton2.314.128.1
167Pana2.38.528.5
168Earlville0.820.228.5
169Mount Pulaski0.028.628.6
170Bethany1.619.128.6
171Mount Olive1.716.328.7
172Mcleansboro1.716.528.7
173Colona2.511.928.7
174Princeton1.518.528.9
175Lanark1.810.929.1
176South Beloit1.718.629.3
177Polo2.88.829.7
178Burr Ridge1.023.229.8
179Paxton2.910.030.0
180Aviston1.911.330.1
181Henry3.07.330.2
182Minier2.018.230.3
183Lenzburg0.030.830.8
184St. Elmo1.223.430.9
185Posen2.912.231.0
186Peru2.016.631.2
187Dupo1.820.231.2
188Carlyle2.216.731.3
189Amboy3.18.931.8
190Willowbrook1.420.831.9
191Rochelle2.412.031.9
192Herscher4.08.032.0
193Grant Park3.213.032.4
194Mclean2.517.632.6
195Germantown0.032.832.8
196Arcola2.115.932.9
197Hampton1.126.233.0
198Crete2.318.033.1
199Barry2.116.133.2
200Delavan1.425.133.3
201Thornton1.815.333.3
202Pontoon Beach3.212.233.5
203Flossmoor1.523.133.5
204Hillsboro2.316.433.8
205Park City2.612.133.9
206Milledgeville2.112.733.9
207Millstadt4.55.635.0
208Tuscola3.512.535.1
209Rushville1.724.835.2
210Casey3.114.636.1
211Fairfield1.625.436.7
212Eldorado1.826.136.8
213Danvers5.45.437.9
214Harwood Heights3.912.538.0
215Monmouth2.619.638.1
216Lacon5.26.938.2
217Chillicothe4.57.738.3
218Colfax2.920.638.3
219Mackinaw1.927.138.5
220River Grove3.216.038.5
221Royalton4.312.938.7
222De Soto5.08.938.7
223Annawan3.517.738.9
224Minonk3.015.239.5
225Colchester2.316.339.6
226Manteno3.315.239.7
227Litchfield1.034.140.4
228Kincaid4.016.640.4
229Okawville4.414.140.5
230Countryside1.530.440.8
231Fox Lake2.026.041.6
232Rockdale5.68.141.8
233Onarga2.418.842.3
234Eureka4.77.642.8
235East Hazel Crest1.335.243.1
236Mazon3.112.343.2
237Clinton1.728.143.2
238Williamsville4.09.444.2
239Goodfield1.535.444.6
240Stone Park4.811.444.9
241Carrollton4.213.344.9
242Seneca4.319.344.9
243Vandalia3.918.045.0
244South Pekin4.021.145.1
245Milan4.616.345.5
246Warrensburg6.48.547.0
247East Dubuque3.824.247.1
248Palestine3.525.947.2
249Morrison4.715.947.2
250Hartford3.819.147.2
251Roodhouse5.712.947.3
252Fayetteville0.047.847.8
253Morrisonville6.012.047.9
254Mason City5.113.548.4
255Thayer6.112.248.6
256Jerseyville4.017.848.7
257Hillside3.725.349.3
258Georgetown5.97.250.2
259Peoria Heights5.211.350.3
260Galena1.937.751.7
261Olney4.023.351.7
262East Alton4.022.952.2
263Deer Creek3.815.052.5
264Newton6.38.052.5
265Virden3.129.253.1
266Lovington5.712.953.2
267Oregon4.621.553.8
268Nokomis5.118.854.0
269Tilton3.033.454.6
270Stanford6.813.754.6
271Leland5.213.155.0
272Edinburg4.021.155.3
273Warren4.69.255.3
274Bartonville3.629.255.9
275Watseka3.328.756.1
276Caseyville5.616.656.3
277Loami0.056.356.3
278Hanover3.125.156.4
279Potomac6.917.258.6
280Westville6.118.260.1
281Murphysboro7.315.560.3
282Broadview2.644.860.4
283White Hall6.912.660.8
284Dallas City4.922.061.1
285South Roxana4.426.861.9
286Oblong7.020.262.3
287Farmington5.920.062.9
288North Riverside5.729.263.6
289Oak Brook0.757.963.8
290Carlinville4.235.564.9
291Alexis3.643.565.2
292Assumption6.427.265.6
293Silvis7.022.366.6
294Atwood5.115.466.8
295Grafton6.329.567.5
296Ashland4.436.368.2
297Phoenix6.827.968.8
298Godley5.711.568.9
299Salem3.047.469.2
300Paris8.218.770.3
301Harrisburg6.627.170.5
302Robbins8.911.771.2
303Pleasant Hill6.56.571.4
304Merrionette Park7.427.671.9
305South Chicago Heights4.540.572.2
306Riverton7.924.173.0
307Marissa7.826.673.7
308Norris City11.77.377.2
309Hamel8.914.879.7
310Forest View5.944.480.0
311Greenfield10.510.580.4
312Findlay6.318.881.4
313Sullivan11.611.481.8
314Grandview8.721.682.2
315Anna7.339.485.2
316Metropolis5.544.385.4
317Gillespie7.432.085.6
318Savanna9.025.785.7
319Hoopeston7.333.185.8
320Roxana7.520.885.9
321Sandoval7.033.887.5
322Oakbrook Terrace5.251.488.2
323Steger7.242.793.2
324El Paso11.014.393.5
325Centreville7.747.997.5
326Beardstown8.347.299.2
327Havana10.620.9103.4
328Grayville9.745.9104.3
329Albany13.84.6106.0
330Cherry Valley5.967.2107.5
331Olympia Fields2.7101.6121.1
332West City1.6121.9131.3
333Mccook9.959.5138.8
334Ruma19.539.1156.4
335Hodgkins3.7136.5160.9
336Grantfork0.0177.5177.5
337Centralia18.558.2183.7
338Rosemont8.8123.1191.5
339Brooklyn27.420.6192.0
340Ina0.0205.5205.5
341Sauget18.3402.4512.2
342Bedford Park15.0644.5754.2

Methodology

In this study, we examined crime data reported by cities across the state of Illinois. This data was reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Return A and published as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics, which are released on an annual basis. This data includes both violent crimes and property crime in cities across the country. Some of the crimes reported in this data set, which we used for our analysis, include murder, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.

We examed 547 cities in the state of Illinois, including 342 small cities, 177 midsize cities, and 28 large cities. The size of each city was determined by dividing Illinois cities based upon their population. Small cities were those with populations under 10,000 residents. Midsize cities were those with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 residents, and large cities were those with over 50,000 residents.

Our analysis was based upon crime data reported for cities in the calendar year 2019. Since not all cities reported crimes for the full 12 months of the calendar year, we made several adjustments to the data to ensure comparability. First, we excluded any cities that reported less than 2 months of crime data to prevent a single month of data from skewing the results. Secondly, for cities with less than 12 months of data, we scaled the data provided so that it would reflect a full year equivalent for comparison purposes.

AdvisorSmith calculated a crime score for each city in the study. This score was determined by applying a multiplier to each type of crime in order to account for the severity of the crime. For example, more severe crimes such as murder and rape received a higher multiplier to account for their severity. We then added the crime levels and their multipliers together, and we adjusted for each city’s population to arrive at a crime score. We used the crime score to rank cities within their population cohorts to discover the safest cities in Illinois.

Sources

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A, 2019
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