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C

Is Wheeling, Illinois Safe?

Population 38,391 · Safer than 31% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 38,391, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Wheeling earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,401 per 100K.

Wheeling Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWheelingIllinois AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate318.8323.6363.8
Property Crime Rate1938.32036.01,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate235.0--268.2
Theft Rate1401.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate362.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

225.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

319/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1938/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Wheeling

Violent crime in Wheeling is close to the national average. The rate of 318.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1938.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,401 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Wheeling Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault235
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery39
062% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary351
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,401
0100% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft362
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Wheeling Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wheeling
318.8
State
323.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wheeling
1938.3
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Wheeling Safety

Is Wheeling safe?
Not especially. Wheeling earns a C with a crime rate of 225.7 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 Wheeling?
225.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 318.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1938.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Wheeling safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Wheeling's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,401 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Wheeling?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Wheeling generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Wheeling police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Wheeling?
No. Crime in Wheeling has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Wheeling compare to other cities in Illinois?
Below average for the state. Wheeling ranks behind about 73% of Illinois cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Wheeling 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 Wheeling?
Bad. A C grade and 225.7 per-thousand rate put Wheeling below 69% of US cities. Violent crime at 319 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Wheeling?
318.8 per 100,000, which is 12% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (235), robbery (39), 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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