Top 10 most dangerous cities in Illinois

Illinois, a state known for its bustling cities and rich cultural heritage, offers a diverse range of attractions. From the vibrant city life of Chicago with its iconic skyline and deep-dish pizza to the tranquil beauty of the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to politics, music, and literature. However, despite its many positives, Illinois faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Illinois are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Illinois' cultural richness and urban crime issues highlights the state's diverse landscape.

Addressing safety concerns in Illinois involves a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs designed to reduce violence and improve public safety. These initiatives are crucial in tackling the safety issues that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Illinois. While these areas present significant challenges, they also showcase the potential for positive change and community revitalization. Illinois' ongoing efforts to improve safety, coupled with its rich cultural heritage and economic opportunities, continue to make it an appealing place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's numerous attractions reflects Illinois' commitment to fostering a secure and vibrant community.

Chicago Heights Population: 29,598 1,902 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,569

Chicago Heights, IL holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Illinois with 1,902 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,444), robbery (364), rape (76) and homicide (19) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 562% higher than the Illinois average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Danville Population: 30,969 1,756 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,577

The second most dangerous city is Danville. With a population of 30,969 and a violent crime rate that is 511% higher than the Illinois average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Danville are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,756 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 57 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Rockford Population: 147,441 1,430 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 70 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,065

Home to 147,441 residents, Rockford, IL ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Illinois. Unfortunately for residents of Rockford, crime is widespread, with more than 1,430 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.92 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 398% higher than the Illinois violent crime rate.

Peoria Population: 112,644 1,189 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,327

With a violent crime rate that is 314% higher than the Illinois average, it's not hard to see why Peoria made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (109), assault (964), rape (93) and homicide (22). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Peoria more vulnerable to high crime.

Calumet Park Population: 8,383 983 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,335

The ongoing battle with crime in Calumet Park, IL, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 983 and a 1 in 102 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Calumet Park has a violent crime rate that is 242% higher than the Illinois average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Calumet Park.

Alton Population: 26,490 908 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,030

Alton, IL comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 908 per 100,000 people, which is 216% higher than the Illinois average. Alton has a population of 26,490, which translates to 2.49 crimes per day and 1 in 110 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Alton which are much safer than others.

Carbondale Population: 25,400 787 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.16 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,933

A 1 in 127 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.16 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Carbondale makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 787 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 174% higher than the Illinois average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (514), robbery (102), rape (153) and homicide (19).

Springfield Population: 115,075 770 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,015

Springfield, IL is another one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 115,075 and a violent crime rate of 770 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 548 counts of assault, 131 counts of robbery, 85 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Springfield violent crime rate is 168% higher than the Illinois average.

Hazel Crest Population: 13,918 732 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 137 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,156

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Hazel Crest, IL comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Illinois with a violent crime rate of 732 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.00 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 137 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Decatur Population: 71,857 705 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,179

Rounding out our list at #10 is Decatur, IL. With a population of 71,857 and a violent crime rate of 705 per 100,000 people (145% higher than the Illinois average), some parts of Decatur are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 502 counts of assault, 102 counts of robbery, 79 counts of rape and 23 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 142 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Illinois

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Chicago Heights	29,598	1,902	4,569
2	Danville	30,969	1,756	6,577
3	Rockford	147,441	1,430	4,065
4	Peoria	112,644	1,189	4,327
5	Calumet Park	8,383	983	5,335
6	Alton	26,490	908	4,030
7	Carbondale	25,400	787	3,933
8	Springfield	115,075	770	5,015
9	Hazel Crest	13,918	732	4,156
10	Decatur	71,857	705	3,179
11	Peoria Heights	5,825	694	3,366
12	Granite City	28,563	653	3,208
13	Champaign	88,288	646	2,368
14	Rantoul	12,946	610	2,832
15	Blue Island	23,160	584	3,490
16	Rock Island	37,651	563	3,154
17	DeKalb	42,961	547	3,127
18	Chicago	2,699,347	540	3,673
19	Joliet	147,323	511	1,530
20	Rock Falls	8,914	507	3,235
21	Zion	23,677	505	2,460
22	Salem	6,988	504	2,298
23	Moline	41,213	500	3,333
24	Bartonville	6,174	484	2,677
25	Hoopeston	5,178	481	2,091
26	Murphysboro	7,727	473	3,327
27	Forest Park	13,808	473	4,032
28	Litchfield	6,626	447	4,922
29	South Holland	21,451	402	2,419
30	Belleville	41,256	397	1,780
31	Robinson	7,431	389	1,697
32	Lansing	27,614	381	3,090
33	Chillicothe	6,326	368	2,107
34	Steger	9,289	365	2,070
35	Wood River	10,149	357	2,734
36	Bellwood	18,799	356	2,070
37	Silvis	7,507	353	4,039
38	Glenwood	8,846	349	2,369
39	Sterling	14,774	347	1,887
40	Metropolis	6,053	342	3,385
41	University Park	7,224	341	1,876
42	Loves Park	23,274	340	1,813
43	Alsip	18,843	334	3,135
44	Pekin	32,796	330	2,608
45	Oak Park	52,102	328	3,340
46	Freeport	23,930	316	1,623
47	Mount Carmel	6,922	312	668
48	Effingham	12,310	312	3,044
49	Park Forest	20,715	311	1,685
50	Fairview Heights	16,143	307	3,454

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Illinois is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Illinois cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.