IL · 8 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Illinois
Illinois recorded 258 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 22% below the national rate and down 25% since 2022. Of the 8 cities we cover, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield have the highest rates and Naperville the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Chicago
Aurora
Elgin
Joliet
Naperville
Peoria
Rockford
SpringfieldFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Illinois, ranked
The 8 Illinois cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 5 of 8 run above the state average of 258. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Peoria
1,257 violent crimes per 100k
4.9× the state average
- 2
Rockford
900 violent crimes per 100k
3.5× the state average
- 3
Springfield
896 violent crimes per 100k
3.5× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria | 1,257 | 3,979 | 111,389 |
| 2 | Rockford | 900 | 2,532 | 147,186 |
| 3 | Springfield | 896 | 4,212 | 112,595 |
| 4 | Chicago | 420 | 2,956 | 2,715,488 |
| 5 | Joliet | 344 | 1,156 | 152,211 |
| 6 | Aurora | 220 | 1,082 | 180,824 |
| 7 | Elgin | 218 | 928 | 114,717 |
| 8 | Naperville | 70 | 892 | 154,062 |
| Illinois average | 258 | 1,556 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Illinois we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 8 cities in this ranking.
- Naperville70 per 100k · 73% below the state average
- Elgin218 per 100k · 15% below the state average
- Aurora220 per 100k · 15% below the state average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Illinois crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Illinois?
Of the 8 Illinois cities in our ranking, Peoria has the highest violent crime rate: 1,257 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 4.9 times the state average. Rockford and Springfield come next. Even in Peoria, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Peoria guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Illinois?
Among the cities we rank, Naperville has the lowest violent crime rate, at 70 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 73% below the state average. Elgin follows with 218. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Illinois safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Illinois recorded 258 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 22% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 8 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Illinois cities have above-average crime?
5 of the 8 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Illinois average of 258 per 100,000 residents: Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Chicago and Joliet. The other 3 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Illinois?
Violent crime in Illinois went from 343 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 258 in 2025, down 25%. Property crime went from 1,839 to 1,556 over 2022–2025, down 15%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.