CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C

Is Kankakee, Illinois Safe?

Population 23,400 · Safer than 31% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 23,400, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Kankakee earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,588 per 100K.

Kankakee Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricKankakeeIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate413.6323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate1829.22036.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate335.0--268.2
Theft Rate1588.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate460.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

224.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

414/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1829/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Kankakee

Violent crime in Kankakee is close to the national average. The rate of 413.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1829.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,588 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 335 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Kankakee Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault335
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery78
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary341
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,588
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft460
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Kankakee Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kankakee
413.6
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kankakee
1829.2
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Kankakee Safety

Is Kankakee safe?
Not especially. Kankakee earns a C with a crime rate of 224.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Kankakee?
224.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 413.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1829.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Kankakee safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Kankakee's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,588 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Kankakee?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Kankakee generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Kankakee police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Kankakee?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Kankakee's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Kankakee compare to other cities in Illinois?
Middle of the pack for Illinois. Kankakee isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 41th percentile among Illinois cities.
How safe is Kankakee to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Kankakee?
Bad. A C grade and 224.3 per-thousand rate put Kankakee below 69% of US cities. Violent crime at 414 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Kankakee?
413.6 per 100,000, which is 14% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (335), robbery (78), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Illinois

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

D+
See crime rates in Lisle23,432 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Maywood23,330 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Freeport23,202 pop · Grade C-
C-
See crime rates in Elmwood Park23,675 pop · Grade C-
D
See crime rates in Rolling Meadows23,690 pop · Grade D
C+
See crime rates in Loves Park23,712 pop · Grade C+
View all Illinois city safety grades

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

Get weekly safety updates for Kankakee

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