Top 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Chicago (2026)

Key Takeaways

• Crime in Chicago is concentrated, not citywide. Most of the city's violent and property crime clusters in a small number of community areas. Many Chicago neighborhoods have crime rates at or below the national average.
• This list ranks neighborhoods by local police data, not commercial indexes. Rankings are based on Chicago Police Department CLEAR incident reports, adjusted per 1,000 residents using U.S. Census population estimates, giving a per-capita picture rather than raw totals.
• The highest-risk community areas include Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, and West Garfield Park, among others. Exact rankings depend on the most recent full-year CLEAR data and may shift year to year.
• Crime rates describe geography, not residents. A high per-capita figure reflects reported incidents in an area. It is not a judgment on the people who live there.
• Residents looking to strengthen home security can start with a local-storage, no-monthly-fee system that keeps footage private and costs predictable, without relying on cloud subscriptions.

Chicago is famous for three big things: deep-dish pizza, the wind, and gun violence. This city remains as ever a place of complexity, where art and danger coexist. Chicago generally gets the most homicides of any city, which gives it a toxic reputation as "the world's most dangerous city".

But like every city, Chicago is also a mix of high and low crime areas. Chicago's crime risk is concentrated in a few community areas, not spread evenly across the city. This guide ranks those neighborhoods using Chicago Police Department CLEAR reports, adjusted per resident, with areas like West Garfield Park and Englewood among the highest-risk. Whether you are visiting or thinking about relocating, being aware of the most dangerous neighborhoods can help you stay safe.

Is Chicago Safe?

No, overall, Chicago is not considered a safe city, but its level of danger is not as high as you might imagine. According to the 2024 crime figures released by the FBI, Chicago's total crime rate is 4012.2 per 100,000 people, which is 89% higher than the national average of 2119.2. Its crime rate ranks 14th among the top 30 largest U.S. cities. A new safety ranking from WalletHub places Chicago 161st in overall safety out of 182 U.S. cities.

How Dangerous is Chicago?

Violent crime (Homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault): There were about 540 violent crimes recorded per 100,000 people in Chicago in 2024, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Last year, Chicago's violent crime rate was down 11% on 2023 levels and roughly half what it was in the years leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic. On this measure, the city ranked near the bottom of US cities with populations larger than 500,000 (29th out of 37), according to BBC Verify analysis of FBI data.

Murders: In 2024, the FBI recorded 461 homicides. Since 2012, Chicago has had the most murders of any US city for 13 consecutive years. But in terms of the homicide rate per 100,000 people, Chicago did not top the list last year. BBC Verify analysis of FBI figures shows that Chicago ranked tenth out of 37 US cities with a population of more than 500,000 people. It is hasty to easily judge Chicago as the most dangerous city in the world.

Property Crime (such as burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft): The property crime rate is 3472.4 per 100,000 residents. It's 97% higher than the national average of 1,760.1.

How This List Was Built

The rankings in this guide are drawn from the Chicago Police Department's CLEAR (Citizen Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting) system, which logs every incident reported across the city's 77 official community areas. To compare neighborhoods of different sizes, we divided each area's crime totals by its estimated population using U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates and expressed the result per 1,000 residents. All figures are drawn from 2025 full-year CLEAR data and are not updated in real time. Community areas with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded to keep rates stable. Commercial safety indexes, such as AreaVibes and NeighborhoodScout, were consulted as a secondary reference but do not determine the ranking order.

Quick Snapshot Table: Dangerous Neighborhoods in Chicago 2026

Top 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Chicago

Chicago's crime rate isn't evenly distributed. It's concentrated in specific community areas across the city.

1. Englewood

Englewood is one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, with violent crime far above the citywide level. Its violent crime rate is 91.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

2. Greater Grand Crossing

Greater Grand Crossing ranks among Chicago's highest-risk community areas, mainly due to violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 83.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

3. West Garfield Park

West Garfield Park is one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, with persistently high violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 80.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

4. Washington Park

Washington Park is a high-risk community area on Chicago's South Side, driven mainly by violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 76.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

5. North Lawndale

North Lawndale is among Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, with high violent and total crime. Its violent crime rate is 75.8 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

6. East Garfield Park

East Garfield Park is a high-risk West Side community area, driven mainly by violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 68.6 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

7. South Shore

South Shore is one of the larger high-risk community areas on the South Side, with elevated violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 66.6 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

8. Riverdale

Riverdale is a small, high-risk Far South Side community area with elevated violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 62.9 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025); its small population makes the rate more volatile.

9. West Englewood

West Englewood is among Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, with high violent crime. Its violent crime rate is 61.6 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

10. Chatham

Chatham is a South Side community area with elevated violent and property crime. Its violent crime rate is 58.9 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025).

How to Stay Safe in Dangerous Chicago Neighborhoods?

1. Home and Property Safety

Basically, it's important to secure your entry points in Chicago.

For everyday home protection in these neighborhoods, a local-storage system such as the eufy LocalSecure System keeps footage on-site with no monthly fees. It pairs 4K cameras with door and window sensors, all managed through HomeBase S380 with BionicMind AI that identifies people, vehicles, and pets on devices.

If you need a more advanced setup, the eufy ProSecure System is a professional-grade NVR system powered by a local AI agent, built for 24/7 recording with expandable storage.

2. Personal Safety

Stay vigilant. The first step is to stay aware of your surroundings. Do not walk while using your cell phone or wearing headphones.

Stay informed. Keep up-to-date with local news both before and during your trip. Knowing about any events or areas to avoid can help you plan a safer visit. For updates on local news, events, and safety in Chicago, check the official website of the City of Chicago or reliable local news outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and ABC 7 Chicago.

Stay in Well-Lit, Populated Areas. Especially at night, walk in groups when possible and stick to well-lit streets and more populated areas. Avoid shortcuts through alleys or less busy streets.

Keep Valuables Secure. While exploring the bustling streets of Chicago or any city, it's imperative to keep your belongings safe and secure, especially in crowded areas where pickpocketing may occur. And consider wearing your backpack in front of you.

3. Transportation Safety

Opt for well-known public transport or reputable taxi (including Yellow Cab Chicago and Chicago Carriage Cab) and rideshare services (like Uber and Lyft), especially at night. The 'L' train and buses are generally safe, but being aware of your surroundings is always advisable.

When driving, always park in well-lit areas. Be sure to lock the doors and close all windows before leaving your car. Never leave spare keys inside the vehicle. Don't leave bags in your car.

Conclusion

While Chicago does have relatively high safety risks, the crime rate is not uniform across the city. Not all neighborhoods in Chicago face the same safety challenges. You can fully enjoy the rich cultural heritage of the city by simply avoiding dangerous neighborhoods like Englewood, East Garfield Park, and Washington Park, staying alert and following our safety tips. At home, consider installing security cameras or a home security system to protect both your personal safety and property. When traveling, plan your route based on crime data and remain vigilant throughout your journey. Crime rates reflect where incidents are reported, not who lives there.

FAQs

What is the most dangerous neighborhood in Chicago?

Based on Chicago Police Department CLEAR data for 2025, adjusted per resident, Englewood has the highest violent crime rate among Chicago community areas with populations above 5,000. Its violent crime rate is 91.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025). The ranking uses CPD CLEAR reports adjusted per resident, excluding community areas with fewer than 5,000 residents where small samples can make rates more volatile.

What neighborhoods to avoid in Chicago?

The five Chicago community areas with the highest violent crime rates per resident are Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, West Garfield Park, Washington Park, and North Lawndale. Each records a violent crime rate above 75 per 1,000 residents, far above the citywide level, based on Chicago Police Department CLEAR data for 2025.

Which part of Chicago is safest?

Edison Park is consistently the safest community area in Chicago, with a violent crime rate of about 1.2 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of roughly 8.1 per 1,000 residents, both well below the citywide average. Other low-crime areas include Mount Greenwood, Forest Glen, Norwood Park, and Lincoln Park. These figures are based on reported incidents from Chicago Police Department data, adjusted per resident using Census population estimates.

Is it safe to walk around Chicago?

Yes, it is generally safe to walk around Chicago, especially in tourist destinations. But at night, extra care is needed. Stick to common-sense rules such as keeping an eye on your belongings, staying alert and aware of your surroundings, sticking to well-lit and highly populated areas, and avoiding walking alone late at night.

What is the most dangerous part of Chicago?

A "dangerous part" of Chicago typically refers to a specific community area with a high violent crime rate per resident, not the entire South Side or West Side. For example, Englewood on the South Side records a violent crime rate of 91.0 per 1,000 residents, and West Garfield Park on the West Side records 80.0 per 1,000 residents (Chicago PD CLEAR, 2025). Many other South Side and West Side neighborhoods fall well below those levels. Per-capita figures are calculated from CPD CLEAR incident data divided by U.S. Census population estimates and can shift year to year.