CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D+

Is Highland Park, Illinois Safe?

Population 30,767 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Highland Park is a smaller community of 30,767 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 251.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,358 per 100K.

Highland Park Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHighland ParkIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate258.1323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2260.92036.01,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate163.0--268.2
Theft Rate1358.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate404.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD+

251.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

258/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2261/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Highland Park

Violent crime in Highland Park is below the national average. The rate of 258.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2260.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,358 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Highland Park Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault163
061% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery61
096% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary272
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,358
097% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft404
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Highland Park Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Highland Park
258.1
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Highland Park
2260.9
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Highland Park Safety

Is Highland Park safe?
Not especially. Highland Park earns a D+ with a crime rate of 251.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Highland Park?
251.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 258.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2260.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Highland Park safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Highland Park's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,358 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Highland Park?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Highland Park generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Highland Park police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Highland Park?
No. Crime in Highland Park has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Highland Park compare to other cities in Illinois?
Below average for the state. Highland Park ranks behind about 71% of Illinois cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Highland Park to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Highland Park?
Bad. A D+ grade and 251.9 per-thousand rate put Highland Park below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 258 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Highland Park?
258.1 per 100,000, which is 29% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (163), robbery (61), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Illinois

Similar-sized communities in Illinois. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Algonquin30,824 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Gurnee30,458 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Niles30,443 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Pekin31,277 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Elk Grove Village31,885 pop · Grade D-
C
See crime rates in McHenry29,217 pop · Grade C
View all Illinois city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Highland Park

Get weekly safety updates for Highland Park

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities