Illinois’s Safest Cities of 2026

See crime rates for the safest cities.

Violent crime in Illinois may be decreasing based on our State of Safety survey respondents' first-hand experiences and official crime data, but residents remain highly concerned about violence, especially gun violence. This isn't surprising considering The Prairie State saw the nation's third-highest number of mass shootings in 2025. 

Counteracting that sobering statistic is the surprisingly low number of violent crimes reported by Illinois' safest cities. In fact, none of Illinois' 10 safest cities reported more than 0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 people.

The violent crime rate in Illinois is 3.37 incidents per 1,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 4.43. We weren't able to report a statewide violent crime rate over the last two years due to insufficient data, but in our 2024 report, Illinois reported a higher violent crime rate of 3.9.

On the other hand, property crime in The Prairie State has increased in recent years, jumping from 17.8 incidents per 1,000 people in 2024 to 20.95. Still, that's lower than the national property crime rate of 22.89. 

Overall, 58% of Illinois residents say they worry about crime on a daily basis. This is up from 48% the previous year and is the fifth highest percentage in the nation (US 46%).

Despite that increase in worry, our survey reveals some hopeful trends. Illinoisans are less likely to feel safe in their state compared to the average American, but their confidence level rose year over year from 36% to 48% (US 52%). Nearly one in four (23%) Illinois residents believe crime is decreasing, which is the most optimistic outlook in the nation.

Illinois residents reported no change in property crime concerns year over year. Meanwhile, first-hand reports of package theft and property crime experiences have declined.

• 17% of Illinois residents experienced a property crime in the 12 months prior to our survey, down from 22% the previous year (US 21%).
• 53% of Illinois residents say they worry about property crime happening to them—the same percentage as the last two years (US 46%).
• Illinois reports the sixth lowest percentage of property crime experiences in the nation for the second year in a row.
• 32% of Illinoisans reported experiencing package theft in the 12 months prior to our survey, down from 37% the previous year. 
• Package theft worries 49% of Illinoisans (US 44%).
• Security cameras are the most-used form of property protection among Illinois residents, with 45% using them. Guard dogs and security systems tie for second at 28% each.
• 51% of Illinois residents told us they increased their security measures in the 12 months prior to the survey, up from 34% the year before (US 32%).

In our most recent State of Safety survey, Illinoisans' daily concern about violent crime increased year over year. Despite this elevated concern, Illinois residents experienced fewer violent crimes in the 12 months prior to our survey compared to the previous year. 

• 13% of Illinois residents experienced a violent crime in the 12 months prior to our survey, which is higher than the national average of 9%.
• Violent crime experiences in Illinois fell from 14% to 13% year over year.
• Concern about violent crime increased from 63% to 67% year over year.
• Iliinoisans report the fourth highest level of concern about violent crime nationwide. 
• Despite Illinois’s high levels of concern, only 21% said they use personal protection.
• Illinoisans prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (71%), pocket knives (43%), and firearms (33%). 

• For the second year in a row, Illinois residents reported the sixth highest percentage of gun violence experiences nationwide. 
• Gun violence experiences fell from 14% to 13% year over year.
• 73% named gun violence their top daily safety concern (US 55%), which is the highest percentage in the country.
• In 2025, Illinois experienced 26 mass shootings—more than any other state except Texas and California.
• Mass shooting incidents in Illinois fell by from 36 to 26. This is the fourth consecutive year the number has gone down.
• Of the Illinois residents who use some form of protection, 33% use firearms for personal protection.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 253 cities met criteria to be considered for ranking.
• Campton Hills is the safest city in Illinois for the third year in a row. 
• Hawthorn Woods reported zero violent crimes.
• Every safest city reported no more than 0.5 violent crimes and 3 property crimes per 1,000 people.
• Homer Glen saw no change in its violent crime and property crime rates year over year.
• Manhattan and Sandwich saw year over year declines in both violent crime and property crime.
• Except for La Salle, all of the safest cities are clustered around Chicago. 
• No murders were reported in Illinois's safest cities. 
• 3 robberies occurred in Illinois's 10 safest cities.
• 4 cities reported zero motor vehicle thefts: Campton Hills, Pingree Grove, Lindenhurst, and Sandwich.

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