So you’re moving to the Windy City, but safety is your number one priority when it comes to your new digs. To help you decide which area is right for you, we’ve compiled statistics that provide a snapshot of some of the safest neighborhoods in Chicago. Below are Chicago’s average crime rates to give you reference for how the city’s individual hoods compare.
Violent Crimes (calculated annually per 10,000 residents)
Assault: 58 (National: 24.8)
Murder: 28 (National: 0.76)
Robbery: 43.9 (National: 13.6)
Property Crimes (calculated annually per 10,000 residents)
Burglary: 52.3 (National: 50)
Theft: 224.8 (National: 204.3)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 42.1 (National: 28.4)
1. Edison Park
- 19.7 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 13.6 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 43.2 thefts per 10,000 residents
Edison Park, on the far northwest side of the city, is a sleepy neighborhood with a population of just over 11,000. The 1.1-square mile area was incorporated as a village in 1881 and annexed to Chicago in 1910. With a high concentration of Chicago police officers living in this neighborhood, it claims one of the lowest crime rates in the city.
2. Printer’s Row
- 15.8 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 7.9 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 2.3 motor vehicle thefts per 10,000 residents
One of the safest neighborhoods in Chicago is in the heart of the city, just blocks from the busy business center known as the ‘Loop’—Printer’s Row is a small neighborhood with a population of just 8,848 and spans from Congress Parkway on the north and Polk Street on the south. The neighborhood has become more popular with young families in recent years. The Printer’s Row Literary Festival each summer is a major draw for folks all over the city.
3. Forest Glen
- 16.3 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 39.6 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 2.7 robberies per 10,000 residents
Just to the east of Edison Park is Forest Glen, which has a population of roughly 18,000 and spans about 2.5-square miles. Forest Glen is conveniently located close enough to the city, but far enough away to maintain a peacefulness you’d find in the suburbs.
4. Gold Coast
- 11.9 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 8.1 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 136.2 thefts per 10,000 resident
With Lake Michigan as its neighbor to the east and home to some of the city’s best shopping and dining, the historic Gold Coast neighborhood boasts some of the most beautiful architecture in the city—it also has extremely low instances of crime, though it is a little higher in terms of property crime (theft).
5. Mount Greenwood
- 9.5 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 3.4 robberies per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 2.6 motor vehicle thefts per 10,000 residents
On Chicago’s southwest side is Mount Greenwood, home to nearly 1,500 Chicago police officers, which helps the neighborhood stay safe. It bears mentioning that over 70 percent of the city’s police officers live on the northwest or southwest side.
6. Norwood Park
- 18.2 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 23.1 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were 2 murders last year
- 3.6 robberies per 10,000 residents
On the far northwest side, near O’Hare International Airport, is Norwood Park. Similar to Edison Park and Forest Glen, it’s a community ideally suited to growing families. Many civil servants (police officers and firefighters) also live in this neighborhood.
7. Greektown
- 20.2 assaults per 10,000 residents
- 6.7 burglaries per 10,000 residents
- There were no murders last year
- 11.2 robberies per 10,000 residents
Outside of Athens, Chicago’s Greektown is probably your best best for immersing yourself in Greek culture. This neighborhood is one of the many that make up the Near West Side, and it there’s always some sort of event taking place. The tight-knit community enjoys a fairly safe neighborhood, rounding out our list.
There’s something to be said about these Chicago neighborhoods that have crime rates well below the city’s average. If you’re looking for the safest place to live, use this as a guide, and check out this helpful map and breakdown of each neighborhood’s crime rate.
This article was updated on 5/24/18.
Related content
