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D

Is Oak Lawn, Illinois Safe?

Population 56,450 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Oak Lawn has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 257.2 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,438 per 100K.

Oak Lawn Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricOak LawnIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate437.6323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2134.52036.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate348.0--268.2
Theft Rate1438.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate223.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

257.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

438/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2135/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Oak Lawn

Violent crime in Oak Lawn is above the national average. The rate of 437.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2134.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,438 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 348 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Oak Lawn Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault348
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery81
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary388
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,438
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft223
070% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Oak Lawn Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oak Lawn
437.6
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oak Lawn
2134.5
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Lawn Safety

Is Oak Lawn safe?
Not especially. Oak Lawn earns a D with a crime rate of 257.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Oak Lawn?
257.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 437.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2134.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Oak Lawn safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Oak Lawn's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,438 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Oak Lawn?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Oak Lawn generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Oak Lawn police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Oak Lawn?
No. Crime in Oak Lawn has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Oak Lawn compare to other cities in Illinois?
Below average for the state. Oak Lawn ranks behind about 80% of Illinois cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Oak Lawn to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Oak Lawn?
Bad. A D grade and 257.2 per-thousand rate put Oak Lawn below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 438 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Oak Lawn?
437.6 per 100,000, which is 20% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (348), robbery (81), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Illinois city safety grades

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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.

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