F
37%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
91%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
27%
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 peopleDecatur/100k peopleIllinois/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,187n/a (estimate)3,1791,9702,324
Murder16n/a23.37.86.3
Rape54n/a78.548.140.0
Robbery70n/a101.884.766.1
Assault345n/a501.5146.7268.2
Violent crime485n/a (estimate)705287370
Burglary418n/a607.7208.5269.8
Theft1,014n/a1,474.11,192.71,401.9
Vehicle theft270n/a392.5281.6282.7
Property crime1,702n/a (estimate)2,4741,6831,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Decatur, IL

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Decatur is 36.8% higher 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 Decatur, there were 485 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 705 per 100,000 individuals, 90.7% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 1702 property crimes, amounting to 2474 per 100,000 residents, 26.6% higher than the U.S. average.

Decatur is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 705 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Decatur is 1 in 142.

Although murder rates are essentially half of what they used to be 30+ years ago, some cities still struggle with higher rates than others. Decatur is one of those cities. In the last reported crime year, there were a total of 16 murders in Decatur, which equates to 23 murders per 100,000 people. This results in Decatur being a very dangerous place to live.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Decatur?

AreaVibes surveyed 47 local residents in Decatur to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 26% of people answered that there was very little crime in Decatur and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 74% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Decatur a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Decatur is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Decatur has an overall crime rate that is 37% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 5.99 daily occurrences, comprising 1.33 violent crimes and 4.66 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Decatur as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Decatur Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Decatur. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Decatur has decreased by 6.1%. Specifically, violent crime has increased by 29.3%, while property crime has decreased by 12.9%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Decatur.

Potential Causes for Crime in Decatur

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Decatur currently has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

The educational level achieved in any given city can influence crime rates significantly. Greater educational achievement is frequently associated with decreased crime rates, as it offers individuals improved job prospects and alternatives to engaging in crime related activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment rates tend to coincide with elevated crime rates. In Decatur, 80.8% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, in contrast to the national average where 83% have achieved high school graduation.

Decatur has a ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents that differs from the national norm, with 2.48 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to 3.25 nationwide. Crime rates are profoundly influenced by the effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing endeavors. A resilient and cooperative partnership between law enforcement agencies and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, ultimately enhancing safety. The efficacy of law enforcement extends beyond mere numbers and extends into the realm of community policing strategies, emphasizing the cultivation of trust and collaboration between officers and the community. It is not merely a matter of quantity but the quality of engagement with the community that matters most.

Decatur crime map



The Decatur crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Decatur 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 Decatur crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Decatur 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 Decatur, IL Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Decatur crime rates are 37% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Decatur are 91% higher than the national average
      • In Decatur you have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Decatur is safer than 10% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Decatur has decreased by 3%

      Decatur, IL Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Decatur (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Decatur, Illinois is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Decatur are 1.61 times more than the Illinois average and 1.37 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Decatur are 2.45 times more than than Illinois and 1.91 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Decatur are 1.47 times more than than Illinois and 1.27 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Decatur (higher is better)

        How safe is Decatur, Illinois compared to other cities in Illinois and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Decatur is safer than 3% of the cities in Illinois and 10% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in Illinois and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Decatur. Overall, Decatur is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Decatur

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Decatur is 1 in 142
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Decatur is 1 in 41
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Decatur is 1 in 32
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Decatur, Illinois you have a 1 in 142 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 41 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Decatur.

        Year Over Year Crime In Decatur (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Decatur 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 Decatur has increased by 33%, while the property crime rate in Decatur has decreased by 10% year over year. The number of total crimes in Decatur has decreased by 3% year over year.

        Decatur police department

        Item Decatur Illinois National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)18930,690558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.52.63.3
        There are a total of 189 Decatur police officers. This results in 2.5 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 6.2% less than the Illinois average and 23.6% 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
        Forsyth, IL3,47489520608
        Long Creek, IL1,454109637746
        Warrensburg, IL1,261125734859
        Mount Zion, IL5,707119750869
        Harristown, IL1,294127743870
        Bethany, IL1,311160721881
        Cerro Gordo, IL1,275134784917
        Decatur, IL71,8577052,4743,179

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Frederick, MD71,8433721,5551,926
        Lauderhill, FL71,8274062,4572,863
        Pawtucket, RI71,8212872,2532,540
        Pittsburg, CA71,7235962,1872,783
        Redlands, CA71,6802803,0793,359
        Decatur, IL71,8577052,4743,179
        Source: The Decatur, 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.