With a population of 12.8 million people, Illinois is a Midwestern state that borders Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Kentucky.
Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln, the state is known for its major city of Chicago (spoiler alert is NOT number 1 on this list).
Illinois is also home to the beautiful Shawnee National Forest, the first-ever Mcdonald’s, deep-dish pizza, and awesome hot dogs.
Illinois also gave us 8 United States presidents, including Lincoln, Regan, and Obama.
In 1819, Illinois became the first state to abolish slavery.
These make for some great bragging points.
Sadly, Illinois is also the 19th most dangerous state in the Union.
Only 42% of residents say they feel safe living in the state.
Last year, there were 238,108 crimes reported in the state.
Of those 50,103 were classified as violent.
Violent crime includes murder, assault, and robbery.
Over 188,000 were property crimes.
Property crimes include larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
1 in 52 Illinois residents will be the victim of a property crime.
While most areas of the state are safe places to live, the following 10 cities have a lot to do with the crime rate.
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10 Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
10. Joliet, Illinois
With a population of 150,362, Joliet is home to 2 large prisons and the world’s first Dairy Queen.
Chicagoland Speedway is also within the city limits and hosts a little thing called NASCAR.
Overall, there are 17 crimes per 1,000 people in Joliet.
Last year there were 759 violent crimes and 1,731 property crimes.
One of the main concerns is car theft, with over 500 vehicles stolen last year.
9. Aurora, Illinois
Aurora has a population of 179,266. It’s known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first cities to have electric streetlights.
It’s also home to The Hollywood Casino, a 54,000-square-foot gaming complex on the Fox River.
To the town’s detriment, it’s also known for its violent crime.
Aurora residents reported 6 murders, 135 sexual assaults, and 513 aggravated assaults last year.
There were also 1,471 property crimes in Aurora, including 154 motor vehicle thefts.
8. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is situated on Lake Michigan and is the most heavily populated city in Illinois.
It’s also one of the largest cities in the United States, with 2.7 million people.
Chicago is economically diverse, with the wealth of the Gold Coast and the poverty of the Southside, with variations in between.
Chicago is known for its culture, sports teams, mob history, and food.
It’s also known for its crime.
The amount of crime in the city is alarming.
The only thing that keeps it from being number 1 on the list is, that its large population brings its average per-person crime rate lower than some smaller towns.
In reality, Chicago saw 492 murders last year, a 50% jump from the year before.
The total number of crimes reported was 87,670, with 23,449 of them being violent.
Property crimes hovered around the 65,000 mark, making the chances of being a victim of property crime in Chicago 23 per 1,000 residents.
When visiting the city, be alert, do not wear valuables (including handbags, shoes, and coats), do not fight muggers.
If you see a crime in progress, immediately call 911.
Do not get in the middle.
7. Decatur, Illinois
Decatur has a population of 70,500 and lies along the Sangamon river.
Producing 33% of the world’s soybean crop, it was considered the soybean capital of the United States during the first half of the 1900s.
The city is also home to the Caterpillar farm equipment plant.
This combination of farming and manufacturing should make for a safe, stable town.
Unfortunately, Decatur is only safer than 10% of cities its size.
The farming town also has a poverty rate of 24%, making it more likely for people to resort to crime.
Last year there were a total of 2,117 crimes reported in Decatur.
Violent crimes totaled 444, while 1,673 were property crimes.
The odds of being a victim of property crime in Decatur are 1 in 42.
People should be most concerned about burglary, robbery, and motor vehicle theft in Decatur.
6. Peoria, Illinois
Located in central Illinois, Peoria is located on the Illinois river and has a major port for the transportation of produce.
If you had researched this list 4-5 years ago, Peoria would be nowhere in sight.
But in 2019, a report by CBS found that Peoria had become the 15th deadliest city in the country.
There has been a vast uptick in overall crime among the 115,990 residents as well.
A total of 5,318 crimes were reported in Peoria, with 1,158 of them being violent offenses.
Acts of violence occur at a rate of 8.7 per 1,000 residents.
It is believed that the high school dropout rate of 30% and the poverty rate of 20% are the main causes of the crime waves in Peoria.
If you are in this riverfront town, you should be most concerned about robbery and assault.
5. Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is home to the University of Illinois and the site of the first-ever Farm Aid concert.
With a population of 88,302, the city is only 19% safer than other towns its size.
There were 1,992 total crimes reported last year.
627 of them were violent and 1,365 were property crimes.
Your chances of being a victim of property crime in Champaign are 1 in 65.
While the murder rate is low (averaging 2 per year), there are a substantial number of assaults and rapes reported.
With the college campus in town, it is important that young people be educated about personal safety.
Especially not leaving their drinks unattended.
4. Springfield, Illinois
Best known as the birthplace of our 16th president, Springfield is also the capital of Illinois and boasts a population of 116,745.
While the city has many fine attributes, like museums, historical architecture, and the arts, some areas of Springfield are so laden with a crime they consistently land the entire town on dangerous city lists.
In fact, when compared to other cities its size, it’s safer than only 3% of them.
There were 950 (8.3 per 1,000 people), violent crimes reported and 4,320 (38 per 1,000) property crimes reported in the city.
The chances of becoming a crime victim in Springfield are 1 in 22.
If you’re visiting Springfield, it’s vital not to let your guard down.
Keep your vehicle locked and don’t leave anything inside.
3. Mt. Vernon, Illinois
We usually think of small rural towns as places where you can take a carefree stroll down the street and leave your doors open.
You can’t do that in Mt. Vernon. Located quite a distance from Chicago (200 miles), it’s much more crime-ridden based on its population.
With only 14,880 residents, there was an astonishing 6,384 crimes reported last year.
Violent crimes accounted for 1,446 and property crimes totaled 4,939.
Mt. Vernon is home to many distribution centers for places like Walgreens and NAPA.
But should you need a tire changed, ride the flat until the next town.
Your chances of being a victim of theft are 1 in 19 in Mt. Vernon.
2. Rockford, Illinois
Located just 1 hour from Chicago’s O’Hare airport, at first glance, Rockford seems like a great place to live.
The city’s nickname is “The Garden City“, for its 7,000 acres of green space.
However, if you are one of Rockfords 159,597 residents, the grass may not be greener.
Illinois’ 3rd largest city has a major crime problem.
With a total of 6,559 crimes reported, the chances of being a victim are 4 for every 1,000 people.
With over 450 cars stolen last year, many people fear this happening to them.
There were 1,711 violent crimes committed, and over 1,500 of them were assaults.
Violent crime is three times higher in Rockford than in the rest of the state.
1. Danville, Illinois
Located in Vermilion county, about 120 miles from Chicago, Danville has a population of 32,000.
Once inhabited by several indigenous tribes, settlers came to the area because of the nearby salt springs.
Over time, Danville became a center for coal mining and industry.
As happens in many places, the decline of those businesses also brought job loss and decline.
Today, Danville is listed as the most dangerous place in Illinois and the second most dangerous place in the Midwest.
Last year there were 6,220 crimes reported in Danville.
Of those crimes, 1,749 were violent and 4,470 were property.
This makes the chances of being a victim of violent crime 1 in 50.
The chances of being the victim of a property crime is 1 in 20.
5 Safety Tips For Traveling To Illinois
- Don’t draw attention to yourself by flashing cash, wearing jewelry, expensive clothing, or carrying fancy handbags.
- Appear confident. Don’t look confused or lost (even if you are). Go to a safe place to ask for assistance.
- Don’t wear headphones or look at your phone.
- Walk with a group whenever possible.
- At night, stay in well-lit and well-populated areas.
Illinois Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Illinois Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common crime in Illinois?
The most common crimes are robbery and theft (including auto).
Should I fear for my safety when visiting Illinois?
We should always use caution and common sense when traveling.
Some areas of Illinois are more dangerous than others.
Don’t be fearful, rather educate yourself and properly prepare for your visit.
What should I do if I'm robbed in Illinois?
If you are being robbed, do not fight with the assailant.
Give them the bag or jewelry.
Nothing is worth getting hurt.
As soon as possible, call 911.
Go to the nearest business and ask for help.
life changing
Despite its rich history and cultural offerings, the high crime rates in Illinois cities like Chicago, Rockford, and Danville can make living here feel unsettling at times.
Safety concerns are real, and it’s wise to be cautious. However, let’s also highlight the efforts made by these cities and communities to address crime and improve conditions.
It’s unfortunate that some cities face higher crime rates, but let’s not forget the positive aspects of Illinois too.