Safest Cities in Illinois (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Naperville is the safest city in Illinois with a crime rate of 8.6 per 1,000 residents, earning a A- safety grade. Kewanee (18.5/1K) and Homewood (19/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 225 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate

22.7per 1K

Below National Avg

82of 225 cities

Above National Avg

143of 225 cities

All 225 Cities Ranked by Safety

#	City	Grade	Crime/1K	Risk Level	Violent	Property
1	Naperville	A-	8.6	Low Risk	55	800
2	Kewanee	B	18.5	Below Average Risk	313	1538
3	Homewood	B	19	Below Average Risk	318	1578
4	Loves Park	B	19.1	Below Average Risk	322	1593
5	Columbia	B	19.1	Below Average Risk	365	1545
6	Plainfield	B-	19.2	Moderate	320	1605
7	Ottawa	B	19.2	Below Average Risk	351	1568
8	Crestwood	B-	19.2	Moderate	351	1574
9	Belleville	B-	19.3	Moderate	341	1590
10	Shiloh	B-	19.3	Moderate	300	1629
11	Palos Heights	B-	19.3	Moderate	306	1623
12	East Peoria	B-	19.4	Moderate	325	1614
13	Matteson	B-	19.4	Moderate	311	1630
14	Wilmette	B-	19.5	Moderate	362	1586
15	Beach Park	B-	19.5	Moderate	390	1561
16	Hickory Hills	B-	19.5	Moderate	420	1533
17	Taylorville	B-	19.5	Moderate	409	1544
18	Quincy	B-	19.6	Moderate	357	1601
19	Country Club Hills	B-	19.7	Moderate	387	1586
20	Rantoul	B-	19.7	Moderate	425	1541
21	Roscoe	B-	19.7	Moderate	397	1570
22	Homer Glen	B-	19.8	Moderate	363	1619
23	Yorkville	B-	19.9	Moderate	308	1679
24	Swansea	B-	19.9	Moderate	363	1631
25	Hazel Crest	B-	19.9	Moderate	332	1657
26	Waterloo	B-	19.9	Moderate	295	1695
27	Lincoln	B-	20	Moderate	359	1641
28	Harvey	B-	20.1	Moderate	441	1568
29	Winnetka	B-	20.1	Moderate	336	1674
30	Washington	B-	20.2	Moderate	434	1589
31	River Grove	B-	20.2	Moderate	329	1692
32	Frankfort	B-	20.3	Moderate	384	1643
33	Belvidere	B-	20.4	Moderate	434	1601
34	Lombard	B-	20.5	Moderate	335	1713
35	Alton	B-	20.5	Moderate	378	1669
36	Schiller Park	B-	20.5	Moderate	348	1702
37	Elmhurst	B-	20.6	Moderate	316	1740
38	Dolton	B-	20.6	Moderate	372	1686
39	River Forest	B-	20.6	Moderate	436	1627
40	Manhattan	B-	20.6	Moderate	301	1761
41	Glendale Heights	B-	20.7	Moderate	320	1749
42	Collinsville	B-	20.7	Moderate	315	1757
43	Warrenville	B-	20.7	Moderate	434	1636
44	Lincolnwood	B-	20.7	Moderate	306	1762
45	Markham	B-	20.7	Moderate	424	1648
46	Lyons	B-	20.7	Moderate	323	1742
47	Riverdale	B-	20.7	Moderate	409	1657
48	West Chicago	B-	20.8	Moderate	322	1757
49	Montgomery	B-	20.8	Moderate	400	1677
50	Canton	B-	20.8	Moderate	404	1679
51	Plano	B-	20.8	Moderate	364	1717
52	Wheaton	B-	20.9	Moderate	452	1640
53	Rock Island	B-	20.9	Moderate	395	1694
54	La Grange	B-	20.9	Moderate	344	1748
55	Minooka	B-	20.9	Moderate	339	1748
56	Rockford	B-	21	Moderate	422	1675
57	Wood River	B-	21	Moderate	320	1775
58	Vernon Hills	B-	21.1	Moderate	352	1756
59	South Elgin	B-	21.1	Moderate	432	1680
60	Morton Grove	B-	21.1	Moderate	361	1749
61	Evergreen Park	B-	21.1	Moderate	410	1703
62	Palos Hills	B-	21.1	Moderate	363	1749
63	Round Lake	B-	21.3	Moderate	371	1755
64	Bourbonnais	B-	21.3	Moderate	440	1695
65	DeKalb	B-	21.4	Moderate	393	1746
66	McHenry	B-	21.4	Moderate	329	1811
67	Joliet	B-	21.5	Moderate	375	1772
68	Bartlett	B-	21.5	Moderate	406	1743
69	Streamwood	B-	21.5	Moderate	384	1768
70	Oak Forest	B-	21.5	Moderate	449	1704
71	Kankakee	B-	21.5	Moderate	443	1710
72	Park Forest	B-	21.5	Moderate	311	1843
73	Lemont	B-	21.5	Moderate	421	1731
74	Troy	B-	21.5	Moderate	339	1807
75	Barrington	B-	21.5	Moderate	312	1843
76	Wheeling	B-	21.7	Moderate	380	1793
77	Midlothian	B-	21.7	Moderate	323	1849
78	North Aurora	B-	21.8	Moderate	310	1869
79	Dixon	B-	21.8	Moderate	323	1853
80	Worth	B-	21.8	Moderate	309	1876
81	Downers Grove	B-	21.9	Moderate	400	1794
82	Centralia	B-	21.9	Moderate	342	1849
83	Lansing	B-	22	Moderate	361	1838
84	Granite City	B-	22	Moderate	410	1791
85	Marion	B-	22	Moderate	395	1806
86	La Grange Park	B-	22	Moderate	438	1763
87	Effingham	B-	22	Moderate	362	1835
88	Streator	B-	22	Moderate	389	1811
89	Batavia	B-	22.1	Moderate	406	1806
90	Deerfield	B-	22.1	Moderate	431	1779
91	Franklin Park	B-	22.1	Moderate	424	1785
92	Evanston	B-	22.2	Moderate	453	1764
93	St. Charles	B-	22.2	Moderate	419	1798
94	Cahokia Heights	B-	22.2	Moderate	315	1905
95	Danville	B-	22.3	Moderate	387	1838
96	Chicago Heights	B-	22.3	Moderate	315	1914
97	Prospect Heights	B-	22.3	Moderate	302	1930
98	Mount Vernon	B-	22.3	Moderate	412	1820
99	Carpentersville	B-	22.4	Moderate	416	1822
100	Blue Island	B-	22.4	Moderate	356	1887
101	Oswego	B-	22.5	Moderate	447	1803
102	Chatham	B-	22.5	Moderate	429	1817
103	Oak Park	B-	22.6	Moderate	403	1857
104	Burbank	B-	22.6	Moderate	439	1824
105	Elmwood Park	B-	22.6	Moderate	378	1878
106	Alsip	B-	22.6	Moderate	407	1855
107	Jacksonville	B-	22.6	Moderate	300	1961
108	Westchester	B-	22.6	Moderate	438	1821
109	Fairview Heights	B-	22.6	Moderate	412	1844
110	Herrin	B-	22.6	Moderate	439	1823
111	Edwardsville	B-	22.7	Moderate	401	1874
112	Romeoville	B-	22.8	Moderate	332	1953
113	Woodridge	B-	22.9	Moderate	443	1844
114	Villa Park	B-	22.9	Moderate	342	1951
115	Bradley	B-	22.9	Moderate	318	1969
116	Peoria	C+	23	Moderate	361	1940
117	Freeport	B-	23	Moderate	424	1873
118	Macomb	C+	23	Moderate	436	1864
119	Machesney Park	C+	23.1	Moderate	428	1886
120	Grayslake	C+	23.1	Moderate	314	1994
121	Bridgeview	C+	23.1	Moderate	389	1925
122	Morris	C+	23.1	Moderate	336	1979
123	Channahon	C+	23.1	Moderate	340	1972
124	Wauconda	C+	23.1	Moderate	405	1905
125	Western Springs	C+	23.1	Moderate	441	1870
126	Carbondale	C+	23.2	Moderate	320	1997
127	Godfrey	C+	23.2	Moderate	326	1991
128	Hoffman Estates	C+	23.3	Moderate	353	1978
129	Bellwood	C+	23.3	Moderate	419	1907
130	Charleston	C+	23.3	Moderate	324	2004
131	Bloomingdale	C+	23.4	Moderate	447	1891
132	East Moline	C+	23.4	Moderate	432	1908
133	Mokena	C+	23.4	Moderate	370	1969
134	East St. Louis	C+	23.4	Moderate	422	1921
135	Libertyville	C+	23.5	Moderate	366	1982
136	Hinsdale	C+	23.5	Moderate	410	1942
137	Chicago Ridge	C+	23.5	Moderate	397	1949
138	Champaign	C+	23.6	Moderate	343	2018
139	Wood Dale	C+	23.6	Moderate	336	2028
140	Glenview	C+	23.7	Moderate	427	1948
141	Woodstock	C+	23.7	Moderate	445	1927
142	Mattoon	C+	23.7	Moderate	336	2036
143	Northlake	C+	23.7	Moderate	300	2066
144	Campton Hills	C+	23.7	Moderate	388	1984
145	Carol Stream	C+	23.8	Moderate	336	2047
146	O'Fallon	C+	23.8	Moderate	447	1929
147	South Holland	C+	23.8	Moderate	351	2027
148	Sycamore	C+	23.8	Moderate	327	2050
149	Forest Park	C+	23.8	Moderate	350	2027
150	Pontiac	C+	23.8	Moderate	313	2066
151	Decatur	C+	23.9	Moderate	345	2049
152	Park Ridge	C+	23.9	Moderate	441	1954
153	Northbrook	C+	23.9	Moderate	425	1965
154	Roselle	C+	23.9	Moderate	360	2033
155	Sterling	C+	23.9	Moderate	427	1962
156	Justice	C+	23.9	Moderate	420	1968
157	Mundelein	C+	24	Moderate	436	1964
158	Glen Ellyn	C+	24	Moderate	422	1976
159	Lisle	C+	24	Moderate	395	2005
160	Lake Zurich	C+	24	Moderate	404	1998
161	Antioch	C+	24	Moderate	365	2030
162	Round Lake Beach	C+	24.1	Moderate	424	1989
163	Melrose Park	C+	24.1	Moderate	430	1978
164	Lake Forest	C+	24.1	Moderate	356	2057
165	Shorewood	C+	24.1	Moderate	400	2006
166	Schaumburg	C+	24.2	Moderate	387	2037
167	Orland Park	C+	24.2	Moderate	409	2012
168	Oak Lawn	C+	24.2	Moderate	460	1955
169	Tinley Park	C+	24.2	Moderate	333	2090
170	Highland Park	C+	24.2	Moderate	340	2081
171	Highland	C+	24.3	Moderate	379	2052
172	Des Plaines	C+	24.4	Moderate	409	2033
173	Bensenville	C+	24.4	Moderate	432	2011
174	Mahomet	C+	24.4	Moderate	418	2017
175	Huntley	C+	24.5	Moderate	353	2100
176	Cary	C+	24.5	Moderate	335	2111
177	Maywood	C+	24.6	Moderate	352	2110
178	Burr Ridge	C+	24.6	Moderate	416	2040
179	Skokie	C+	24.7	Moderate	363	2102
180	North Chicago	C+	24.7	Moderate	444	2028
181	Lake in the Hills	C+	24.7	Moderate	379	2094
182	Pingree Grove	C+	24.7	Moderate	407	2061
183	Fox Lake	C+	24.8	Moderate	425	2056
184	Cicero	C+	24.9	Moderate	347	2144
185	Berwyn	C+	24.9	Moderate	344	2145
186	Buffalo Grove	C+	24.9	Moderate	439	2046
187	Norridge	C+	24.9	Moderate	401	2091
188	Elgin	C+	25	Moderate	430	2074
189	Lockport	C+	25	Moderate	346	2152
190	Rolling Meadows	C+	25	Moderate	373	2124
191	Glen Carbon	C+	25	Moderate	417	2086
192	Winfield	C+	25	Moderate	382	2122
193	Mount Prospect	C+	25.1	Moderate	385	2122
194	New Lenox	C+	25.1	Moderate	405	2109
195	Lindenhurst	C+	25.1	Moderate	435	2079
196	Urbana	C+	25.2	Moderate	443	2080
197	Zion	C+	25.2	Moderate	398	2123
198	Brookfield	C+	25.2	Moderate	420	2103
199	Bloomington	C+	25.3	Moderate	341	2184
200	Hanover Park	C+	25.3	Moderate	336	2191
201	Normal	C+	25.4	Moderate	326	2212
202	Westmont	C+	25.4	Moderate	407	2131
203	Summit	C+	25.4	Moderate	402	2138
204	Aurora	C+	25.5	Moderate	474	2073
205	Bolingbrook	C+	25.5	Moderate	456	2091
206	Moline	C+	25.5	Moderate	352	2197
207	Algonquin	C+	25.5	Moderate	409	2141
208	Gurnee	C+	25.5	Moderate	347	2202
209	Richton Park	C+	25.5	Moderate	404	2149
210	Morton	C+	25.6	Moderate	445	2116
211	Pekin	C+	25.7	Moderate	418	2154
212	Crystal Lake	C+	25.8	Moderate	360	2225
213	Addison	C+	25.8	Moderate	448	2131
214	Niles	C+	25.8	Moderate	411	2174
215	Darien	C+	25.8	Moderate	435	2143
216	Calumet City	C+	25.9	Moderate	450	2135
217	Geneva	C+	25.9	Moderate	398	2189
218	Arlington Heights	C+	26	Moderate	363	2232
219	Crest Hill	C+	26	Moderate	429	2170
220	Elk Grove Village	C+	26.2	Moderate	416	2209
221	Waukegan	C+	26.4	Moderate	383	2262
222	Palatine	C+	26.5	Moderate	449	2203
223	Galesburg	C+	26.5	Moderate	439	2210
224	Springfield	C	27.4	Elevated	466	2271
225	Chicago	D+	35.5	High Risk	750	2800

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Illinois

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Illinois. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

D+

Chicago35.5/1K · High Risk · Violent: 750/100K

Springfield27.4/1K · Elevated · Violent: 466/100K

C+

Galesburg26.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 439/100K

C+

Palatine26.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 449/100K

C+

Waukegan26.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 383/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Illinois

What is the safest city in Illinois?

As of 2026, Naperville is the safest city in Illinois with a crime rate of 8.6 per 1,000 residents and a A- safety grade. It ranks above 83% of all US cities.

What are the top 10 safest cities in Illinois?

Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Illinois based on crime rate are: Naperville, Kewanee, Homewood, Loves Park, Columbia, Plainfield, Ottawa, Crestwood, Belleville, Shiloh.

What is the most dangerous city in Illinois?

Chicago has the highest crime rate in Illinois at 35.5 per 1,000 residents, earning a D+ safety grade.

What is the average crime rate in Illinois?

The average crime rate across 225 tracked cities in Illinois is 22.7 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 382 per 100K and property crime averages 1889 per 100K.

Is Illinois safe to live in?

Illinois has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 382 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Naperville earns a A- while Chicago gets a D+. 82 of 225 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.

How many cities are ranked in Illinois?

225 cities in Illinois are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 82 have crime rates at or below the national average.

See 2027 rankings for Illinois →View all Illinois city safety grades Safety index for all 50 states

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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