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 1,737 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 58 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,793

Chicago Heights, IL holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Illinois with 1,737 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,268), robbery (369), rape (58) and homicide (42) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 460% 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 1,641 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 61 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,292

The second most dangerous city is Danville. With a population of 30,969 and a violent crime rate that is 429% 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 1,641 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 61 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Peoria Population: 112,644 1,213 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,063

Home to 112,644 residents, Peoria, IL ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Illinois. Unfortunately for residents of Peoria, crime is widespread, with more than 1,213 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.32 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 291% higher than the Illinois violent crime rate.

Rockford Population: 147,441 1,149 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,843

With a violent crime rate that is 271% higher than the Illinois average, it's not hard to see why Rockford made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (123), assault (958), rape (57) and homicide (12). 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 Rockford more vulnerable to high crime.

Harvey Population: 24,295 1,085 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 92 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,220

The ongoing battle with crime in Harvey, 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 1,085 and a 1 in 92 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Harvey has a violent crime rate that is 250% 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 Harvey.

Alton Population: 26,490 939 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,008

Alton, IL comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 939 per 100,000 people, which is 203% higher than the Illinois average. Alton has a population of 26,490, which translates to 2.57 crimes per day and 1 in 106 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.

Springfield Population: 115,075 794 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 126 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,532

A 1 in 126 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.17 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Springfield makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 794 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 156% higher than the Illinois average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (551), robbery (121), rape (118) and homicide (4).

Carlinville Population: 5,645 779 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 128 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,333

Carlinville, IL is another one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,645 and a violent crime rate of 779 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 725 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Carlinville violent crime rate is 151% higher than the Illinois average.

Carbondale Population: 25,400 776 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,095

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, Carbondale, IL comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Illinois with a violent crime rate of 776 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.13 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 129 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Calumet Park Population: 8,383 693 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,841

Rounding out our list at #10 is Calumet Park, IL. With a population of 8,383 and a violent crime rate of 693 per 100,000 people (123% higher than the Illinois average), some parts of Calumet Park are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 301 counts of assault, 316 counts of robbery, 60 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 144 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	1,737	4,793
2	Danville	30,969	1,641	6,292
3	Peoria	112,644	1,213	5,063
4	Rockford	147,441	1,149	3,843
5	Harvey	24,295	1,085	4,220
6	Alton	26,490	939	4,008
7	Springfield	115,075	794	5,532
8	Carlinville	5,645	779	3,333
9	Carbondale	25,400	776	4,095
10	Calumet Park	8,383	693	3,841
11	Decatur	71,857	685	3,249
12	Chicago	2,699,347	607	4,039
13	Rantoul	12,946	599	2,428
14	Murphysboro	7,727	585	3,824
15	Granite City	28,563	572	2,733
16	Rock Island	37,651	549	3,082
17	Posen	5,772	548	2,492
18	University Park	7,224	546	2,125
19	Country Club Hills	16,564	528	3,182
20	Centralia	12,354	524	2,529
21	Peoria Heights	5,825	523	3,315
22	Hazel Crest	13,918	513	3,501
23	Urbana	42,461	482	3,197
24	Forest Park	13,808	479	3,582
25	Glenwood	8,846	475	2,581
26	Blue Island	23,160	469	3,467
27	South Holland	21,451	452	2,768
28	Zion	23,677	443	1,999
29	Salem	6,988	440	2,131
30	DeKalb	42,961	428	2,924
31	Champaign	88,288	425	2,226
32	Moline	41,213	423	3,603
33	Belleville	41,256	414	2,129
34	Paris	8,616	413	1,701
35	Pontiac	11,430	407	1,448
36	Lansing	27,614	407	2,885
37	Joliet	147,323	406	1,409
38	Mattoon	17,273	404	1,327
39	Hoopeston	5,178	402	1,483
40	Sauk Village	10,319	382	1,380
41	Bartonville	6,174	382	2,065
42	Waukegan	87,157	365	1,467
43	Steger	9,289	347	2,320
44	Loves Park	23,274	338	1,525
45	East Alton	6,021	337	1,401
46	Clinton	6,982	336	2,791
47	Olney	8,872	334	2,170
48	Fox Lake	10,739	334	1,854
49	Herrin	12,806	330	2,513
50	Pekin	32,796	328	2,686

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

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

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.