The 10 Safest Cities In Illinois For 2024

The safest cities in Illinois are Campton Hills and Spring Grove for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

If you're considering a move to Illinois, we've done the groundwork for you. We've sifted through FBI crime data, examining 310 cities with populations exceeding 5,000, to compile a comprehensive list of the safest places in Illinois for 2024.

As a whole, Illinois ranks as the 24th safest states in the nation. While it's true that some cities in the Land of Lincoln face challenges predominantly related to petty crimes, the state as a whole boasts a remarkable commitment to safety.

Whether you're a single professional looking for a secure suburb outside of Chicago, an enthusiast of small-town charm seeking a peaceful retreat, or want to live where safety is a top priority, Illinois offers many options. Cities like Naperville beckon with their low crime rates and exceptional quality of life. For those who thrive on the vibrant energy of a big city, Arlington Heights provides a haven amidst the urban hustle and bustle.

So, if you want to discover more about the safest locales in Illinois, grab a deep-dish pizza and join us as we explore the most secure places to call home in the Prairie State.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in Illinois for 2024:

  1. Campton Hills (Homes For Sale)
  2. Spring Grove (Homes For Sale)
  3. Hawthorn Woods (Homes For Sale)
  4. Sandwich (Homes For Sale)
  5. Bartlett (Homes For Sale)
  6. Benton (Homes For Sale)
  7. Cary (Homes For Sale)
  8. Lake Bluff (Homes For Sale)
  9. Orland Park (Homes For Sale)
  10. Clarendon Hills (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In Illinois Map

Many of Illinois' top ten safest cities are in and around Chicago.

But what city is the safest city to live in Illinois for 2024? According to the FBI crime data, Campton Hills is the safest place to live in Illinois if you care about low crime.

And while Campton Hills deserves the number one spot, read on to see how HomeSnacks ranked the Land of Lincoln's other 310 cities.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around Illinois, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In Illinois For 2024

Campton Hills, IL
Source: Wikipedia User Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 10,802
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (third safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 9 (safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Campton Hills: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9.5
/10

Campton Hills is not the Compton 2Pac sings about, it is actually quite the opposite: it's safe. Located in Northern Illinois, it is one of Chi-towns far West burbs and it comes in as our number one safest city in Illinois.

Campton Hills' gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes per 100,000 residents speaks volumes. With a little over 11,000 residents, the superb quality of life in this little village in Kane County is the reason that it basically maintained its spot from last year. Campton Hills is the kind of place where packages from Amazon won't get stolen from your front porch when you're not home.

Population: 5,698
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (third safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 35 (third safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Spring Grove: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Spring Grove is a little village located on the northern border of Illinois in McHenry County near the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

They have definitely upped their safety game from last year in Spring Grove; they moved up to the second safest Illinois city in 2024.

Spring Grove is one of those snowy villages. According to their residents, the only dangers lurking in the shadows in Spring Grove might be the occasional snowball fight. Keep that snow slinging to a minimum Spring Grove, we wouldn't want you to tarnish that impeccable 9/10 safety rating. Unless, of course, you want to sling some snow at those Packer fans in Wisconsin.

Hawthorn Woods, IL
Source: Flickr User Peg Syverson | CC BY 2.0

Population: 8,770
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 11 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 22 (second safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Hawthorn Woods: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
10
/10

Hawthorn Woods is an affluent village in Lake County and it is our third safest city in Illinois.

You won't hear guns a-poppin' and see fists flying unless maybe there's a scuffle over a putt on one of their pristine Arnold Palmer golf courses. Wow, fancy and safe!

This Chicago burb offers a city vibe with a laid back suburban feel. There is a sense of community in Hawthorn Woods and education is a top priority.

So grab the fam, pack the grocery getter, and get a-movin' soon so you don't miss out on any of their safe, family friendly activities scheduled for 2024.

Sandwich, IL
Source: Wikipedia User A. McMurray A mcmurray | GFDL

Population: 7,167
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 13 (eighth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 69 (tenth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Sandwich: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Sandwich, within DeKalb County, upholds its status as the fourth safest place in Illinois. This is attributed to its robust police force and the city's low rate of 13/100k people violent crimes per capita and 83/100k people total crimes per capita. Notably, there was only 1 violent crime cases alongside 5 property crime reports.

Founded by Almon Gage and "Long John" Wentworth, Sandwichs heritage contributes to its strong sense of community and collective focus on safety.

Bartlett, IL
Source: Wikipedia User Harish | GFDL

Population: 40,577
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 22 (12th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 61 (seventh safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Bartlett: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Bartlett, in Cook County, is the fifth safest city in Illinois, boasting a low 22/100k people violent crime rate and an almost non-existent murder rate. Its historical journey from a Native American hunting ground to a modern, safe suburb, thanks to figures like Luther Bartlett, remains untarnished by crime.

The city's law enforcement maintains a commendable 83/100k people total crimes per capita, securing Bartlett's reputation for safety, as reflected in its statewide rankings: 12th safest in violent crime and 7 in property crime.

Benton, IL
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,826
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 29 (16th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 73 (11th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Benton: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
4
/10

Established in 1841 and the county seat of Franklin County, Benton is the sixth safest city in Illinois, boasting a 29/100k people for violent crime per capita. Its low 102/100k people total crimes per capita and 73/100k people property crimes per capita reflect its overall safety, reinforcing its reputation as a secure community despite steady growth since its inception.

Cary, IL
Source: Public domain

Population: 18,036
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 38 (32nd safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 44 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Cary: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Cary, established as a farming community in 1841 and influenced by the Illinois & Wisconsin Railway, is the seventh safest locale in Illinois.

Located within McHenry County, Cary's dedication to maintaining peace is highlighted by a negligible 38/100k people violent crimes per capita, 0 murder incidents, and a modest 8 property crimes. Cary's low 83/100k people crime rates per capita and mere instances of 7 violent crimes cement its reputation as a secure suburban haven.

Lake Bluff, IL
Source: Wikipedia User Teemu08 (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 5,548
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 36 (24th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 90 (13th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Lake Bluff: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
10
/10

Lake Bluff, originally a stagecoach stop and now a village in Lake County, Illinois, boasts an excellent safety record with a meager 126/100k people rate of crimes per capita. Known for its past as "Rockland" and a summer colony for religious and recreational retreats, Lake Bluff has 0 reports of murder or rape and negligible 2 robbery occurrences.

The village's violent crime rate of 36/100k people is exceptionally low, securing its position as the eighth safest location statewide. Additionally, Lake Bluff ranks at the 13th safest for property safety.

Orland Park, IL
Source: Wikipedia User Teemu08 at en.wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 57,993
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 37 (30th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 65 (ninth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Orland Park: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9.5
/10

Orland Park in Cook County, Illinois, has transitioned from its agricultural beginnings to a bustling suburb after the introduction of the "Sedgwick Station." The city prides itself on being the ninth safest place in Illinois, boasting a negligible 37/100k people violent crime rate, including a non-existent murder rate and low instances of assault.

Additionally, Orland Park's property crime rates are remarkably low, with a property crime per capita rate of 65/100k people that ranks it as the ninth safest for property safety across the state.

Clarendon Hills, IL
Source: Wikipedia User David Wilson | CC BY 2.0

Population: 8,787
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 34 (21st safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 113 (18th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Clarendon Hills: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
10
/10

In DuPage County, Clarendon Hills stands out as the tenth safest city, maintaining its low crime rates since its incorporation in 1923. Inspired by Riverside's park-like design, the village has 0 murder cases, just 3 violent crimes, and a mere 10 property crimes reported despite its 8,787 population. The community's dedication to safety is evident with exceptional per capita crime rates: violent crime at 34/100k people and property crime at 113/100k people.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in Illinois for 2024

Safest Cities in Illinois Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in Illinois are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in Illinois.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 1 crimes committed in Campton Hills, with a reported population of 10,802. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0001, which translates into a 1 in 10,802 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at Illinois cities that have populations of more than 5,000. This filter left us with 310 of the biggest cities in Illinois to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 310 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In Illinois," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in Illinois, based on our criteria, is Campton Hills. The most dangerous city in Illinois? Danville, where residents had a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in Illinois. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Prairie State

Looking at the data, you can tell that Campton Hills is as safe as they come in Illinois, according to science and data.

But as most Illinois residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in Illinois are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in Illinois according to the data:

  1. Danville
  2. Calumet Park
  3. Peoria
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In Illinois For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Campton Hills, IL 10,802 0 9 0 0
2 Spring Grove, IL 5,698 0 35 0 0
3 Hawthorn Woods, IL 8,770 11 22 0 0
4 Sandwich, IL 7,167 13 69 0 0
5 Bartlett, IL 40,577 22 61 0 0
6 Benton, IL 6,826 29 73 0 0
7 Cary, IL 18,036 38 44 0 0
8 Lake Bluff, IL 5,548 36 90 0 0
9 Orland Park, IL 57,993 37 65 0 0
10 Clarendon Hills, IL 8,787 34 113 0 0
11 Hinsdale, IL 17,724 22 146 0 0
12 Darien, IL 21,590 37 152 0 0
13 Northbrook, IL 32,927 30 200 0 0
14 Libertyville, IL 20,434 29 200 0 0
15 Wauconda, IL 13,945 28 207 0 0
16 Itasca, IL 9,944 40 150 0 0
17 Island Lake, IL 8,014 62 62 0 0
18 Highwood, IL 5,199 57 115 0 0
19 Pingree Grove, IL 11,078 45 171 0 0
20 Inverness, IL 7,314 27 259 13 1
21 Orland Hills, IL 7,066 14 297 0 0
22 Gilberts, IL 8,339 11 323 0 0
23 Roselle, IL 22,431 62 133 4 1
24 Western Springs, IL 13,175 0 371 0 0
25 Lake Villa, IL 8,565 70 93 0 0
26 Willow Springs, IL 5,628 0 426 0 0
27 Park Ridge, IL 36,888 51 208 0 0
28 Carpentersville, IL 37,201 72 94 2 1
29 La Salle, IL 9,450 63 158 0 0
30 Glen Ellyn, IL 27,704 72 133 0 0
31 Antioch, IL 14,141 77 91 0 0
32 Harrisburg, IL 8,020 74 124 0 0
33 Justice, IL 12,682 31 386 0 0
34 Hampshire, IL 7,881 50 279 0 0
35 Manhattan, IL 10,569 47 312 0 0
36 Winfield, IL 10,460 57 258 0 0
37 Lake In The Hills, IL 28,961 55 290 0 0
38 Coal City, IL 5,800 34 465 0 0
39 Bloomingdale, IL 21,746 82 142 9 2
40 Round Lake, IL 18,069 71 199 0 0
41 Homer Glen, IL 24,524 44 375 0 0
42 Westchester, IL 16,051 49 323 0 0
43 Elburn, IL 6,368 47 361 0 0
44 Crystal Lake, IL 39,726 93 98 2 1
45 Wheaton, IL 52,706 87 146 0 0
46 Lombard, IL 44,392 76 175 2 1
47 Pinckneyville, IL 5,343 93 131 0 0
48 Harwood Heights, IL 8,302 72 228 0 0
49 Lake Forest, IL 19,201 15 671 0 0
50 Burr Ridge, IL 10,782 74 222 0 0
51 Elmhurst, IL 47,034 82 197 0 0
52 Lisle, IL 23,506 38 531 0 0
53 Warrenville, IL 13,172 91 174 0 0
54 Buffalo Grove, IL 42,468 37 612 9 4
55 Lemont, IL 17,394 51 477 0 0
56 Downers Grove, IL 49,070 95 169 2 1
57 Carol Stream, IL 39,161 107 130 0 0
58 Chester, IL 8,174 122 48 0 0
59 Woodridge, IL 33,478 98 182 0 0
60 Lindenhurst, IL 14,242 77 308 7 1
61 Lincolnwood, IL 12,207 73 319 0 0
62 Roscoe, IL 10,815 55 545 9 1
63 Mascoutah, IL 8,622 69 394 0 0
64 Lockport, IL 26,079 53 598 0 0
65 La Grange, IL 15,699 31 758 0 0
66 Lincolnshire, IL 7,931 37 718 0 0
67 Palos Hills, IL 17,790 67 460 0 0
68 Frankfort, IL 20,666 43 701 0 0
69 Wood Dale, IL 13,588 117 154 0 0
70 Hanover Park, IL 37,350 128 125 5 2
71 Genoa, IL 5,244 152 57 0 0
72 Huntley, IL 28,223 60 620 0 0
73 La Grange Park, IL 12,992 46 746 0 0
74 Chatham, IL 14,420 48 735 0 0
75 Glencoe, IL 8,567 35 828 0 0
76 Glendale Heights, IL 33,539 149 125 2 1
77 West Chicago, IL 26,768 134 145 7 2
78 Woodstock, IL 25,778 58 698 0 0
79 Shorewood, IL 18,326 65 643 0 0
80 Barrington, IL 10,614 84 508 0 0
81 Yorkville, IL 23,635 93 444 0 0
82 Mokena, IL 19,829 55 781 0 0
83 Naperville, IL 148,929 52 813 2 3
84 Oswego, IL 35,932 89 517 0 0
85 Deerfield, IL 18,981 36 948 0 0
86 Mchenry, IL 27,610 65 731 0 0
87 Monticello, IL 5,532 126 234 0 0
88 Westmont, IL 24,416 126 249 0 0
89 Winnetka, IL 12,277 65 765 0 0
90 Edwardsville, IL 25,117 63 780 0 0
91 Vandalia, IL 6,812 0 1,203 0 0
92 South Elgin, IL 23,995 100 508 0 0
93 Riverside, IL 8,529 164 187 0 0
94 Northfield, IL 5,534 18 1,192 0 0
95 Geneva, IL 21,152 89 628 0 0
96 Plainfield, IL 46,004 80 676 2 1
97 Algonquin, IL 30,212 49 969 0 0
98 Round Lake Park, IL 7,779 167 205 0 0
99 Mundelein, IL 31,561 60 884 0 0
100 Macomb, IL 17,215 180 168 0 0

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois

Safest Cities in Illinois Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

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HomeSnacks is based in Durham, NC.

We aim to deliver bite-sized pieces of infotainment about where you live.

We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine quality of life for places across the nation.

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