A+
34%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
86%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
24%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleRiver Forest/100k peopleIllinois/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime176n/a (estimate)1,5431,9702,324
Murder0n/a0.07.86.3
Rape0n/a0.048.140.0
Robbery6n/a52.684.766.1
Assault0n/a0.0146.7268.2
Violent crime6n/a (estimate)53287370
Burglary13n/a114.0208.5269.8
Theft146n/a1,280.41,192.71,401.9
Vehicle theft11n/a96.5281.6282.7
Property crime170n/a (estimate)1,4911,6831,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in River Forest, IL

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in River Forest is 33.6% lower than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In River Forest, there were 6 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 53 per 100,000 individuals, 85.8% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 170 property crimes, amounting to 1491 per 100,000 residents, 23.7% lower than the U.S. average.

River Forest distinguishes itself with one of the lowest violent crime rates in the U.S., reporting a mere 53 violent crimes per 100,000 people. This achievement firmly establishes River Forest among the safest cities in the nation, rendering it an alluring choice for those seeking a new place to call home.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, River Forest reported a murder rate of 0. This could indicate that it is a very safe place to live, but also serves as an inspiration to other urban areas striving for safer communities. Examining the full crime report will provide a complete overview of all crimes - violent and property.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in River Forest?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in River Forest. Based on the results of the surveys (7 responses), 86% of people felt that there was very little crime in River Forest and felt safe walking alone at night. While 14% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is River Forest a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if River Forest is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. River Forest has a total crime rate that is 34% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 0.48 daily crimes (0.02 violent daily crimes and 0.47 daily property crimes) in River Forest.

Has Crime in River Forest Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in River Forest has increased by 9.3%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of River Forest, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has decreased by 25%, while property crime has increased by 11.1%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not River Forest is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in River Forest

In River Forest, the current unemployment rate stands at 2.7%, diverging from the national average of 4.7%. The availability of job opportunities is a pivotal factor influencing unemployment and underemployment rates. Communities where individuals contend with limited employment prospects or a preponderance of low-wage positions may witness elevated rates of joblessness and income inadequacy, which can contribute to heightened crime levels driven by financial insecurity. Conversely, areas characterized by robust employment rates often experience a reduction in overall River Forest crime rates.

In River Forest, 95.9% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of any city can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Elevated rental costs can generate economic strain for both individuals and families, particularly those with restricted financial means. When a substantial proportion of one's income is allocated to housing costs, it often leaves limited resources for fulfilling other crucial necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. This financial pressure can fuel desperation, potentially prompting individuals to resort to criminal actions, including theft or fraud, as a means of coping with their financial hardships. In River Forest, the average monthly rent stands at $1,309, while the national average is $949 per month.

River Forest crime map



The River Forest crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in River Forest as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The River Forest crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the River Forest crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare River Forest, IL Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • River Forest crime rates are 34% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in River Forest are 86% lower than the national average
      • In River Forest you have a 1 in 65 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • River Forest is safer than 72% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in River Forest has increased by 2%

      River Forest, IL Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around River Forest

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in River Forest?
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        See all River Forest poll results

        Daily Crime In River Forest (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in River Forest on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of Illinois and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in River Forest (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to Illinois, are 1.28 times less than the state average and 1.51 times less than than national average. Violent crimes committed in River Forest on a daily basis are 5.46 times less than than Illinois average and 7.03 times less than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in River Forest are 1.13 times less than the daily state average and 1.31 times less than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is River Forest (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of River Forest to every other city in Illinois, as well as the entirety of the United States, is River Forest safe? The gauges above illustrate that River Forest is safer than 49% of every city located within Illinois along with 72% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Illinois and in the United States as a whole. As a result, River Forest, IL is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in River Forest

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in River Forest is 1 in 1901
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in River Forest is 1 in 68
        The chance of being a victim of crime in River Forest is 1 in 65
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in River Forest? In River Forest, you have a 1 in 1901 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 68. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in River Forest, IL is 1 in 65.

        Year Over Year Crime In River Forest (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether River Forest is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in River Forest has decreased by 29%, while the property crime rate in River Forest has increased by 4% year over year. The number of total crimes in River Forest has increased by 2% year over year.

        River Forest police department

        Item River Forest Illinois National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)3130,690558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.82.63.3
        There are a total of 31 River Forest police officers. This results in 2.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 4.3% greater than the Illinois average and 15.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Illinois

        State Total offenders Illinois /100K National /100K
        Illinois32,213263266
        There are a total of 32,213 sex offenders in Illinois. This yields a total of 263 sex offenders in Illinois per 100,000 residents which is 1% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Golf, IL521000
        Stone Park, IL4,8429191182
        Kenilworth, IL2,3560333333
        Western Springs, IL13,2470372372
        Indian Head Park, IL3,74455321375
        Willow Springs, IL5,6100426426
        Oakbrook Terrace, IL2,90962365427
        River Forest, IL10,883531,4911,543

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Sussex, WI10,8841818421,023
        Kings Mountain, NC10,8854822,2542,736
        Malvern, AR10,8867583,6864,444
        Camden, AR10,8778143,0933,906
        Manchester, TN10,8965442,5073,051
        River Forest, IL10,883531,4911,543
        Source: The River Forest, IL crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.