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D-

Is Waukegan, Illinois Safe?

Population 87,940 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Waukegan 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 281.7 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,878 per 100K.

Waukegan Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWaukeganIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate320.1323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2497.42036.01,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate237.0--268.2
Theft Rate1878.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate509.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

281.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

320/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2497/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Waukegan

Violent crime in Waukegan is close to the national average. The rate of 320.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2497.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,878 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Waukegan Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault237
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary403
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,878
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft509
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Waukegan Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waukegan
320.1
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waukegan
2497.4
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waukegan Safety

Is Waukegan safe?
Not especially. Waukegan earns a D- with a crime rate of 281.7 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 Waukegan?
281.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 320.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2497.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Waukegan safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Waukegan's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,878 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Waukegan?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Waukegan generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Waukegan police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Waukegan?
No. Crime in Waukegan has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Waukegan compare to other cities in Illinois?
Below average for the state. Waukegan ranks behind about 95% of Illinois cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Waukegan to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Waukegan?
Bad. A D- grade and 281.7 per-thousand rate put Waukegan below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 320 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Waukegan?
320.1 per 100,000, which is 12% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (237), robbery (68), and murder (5.0) 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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