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D

Is Urbana, Illinois Safe?

Population 39,719 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Urbana has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 268 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,952 per 100K.

Urbana Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricUrbanaIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate412.3323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2268.02036.01,832.3
Murder Rate9.0--5.7
Assault Rate314.0--268.2
Theft Rate1952.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate194.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

268 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

412/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2268/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Urbana

Violent crime in Urbana is close to the national average. The rate of 412.3 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2268.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,952 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 314 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Urbana Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder9
01.6x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault314
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery78
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary308
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,952
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft194
061% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Urbana Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Urbana
412.3
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Urbana
2268.0
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Urbana Safety

Is Urbana safe?
Not especially. Urbana earns a D with a crime rate of 268 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 Urbana?
268 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 412.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2268.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Urbana safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Urbana's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,952 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Urbana?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Urbana generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Urbana police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Urbana?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Urbana's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Urbana compare to other cities in Illinois?
Below average for the state. Urbana ranks behind about 87% of Illinois cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Urbana 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 Urbana?
Bad. A D grade and 268 per-thousand rate put Urbana below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 412 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Urbana?
412.3 per 100,000, which is 13% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (314), robbery (78), and murder (9.0) 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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