Violent Crime
Iowa has 41% less violent crime
Iowa records 277.2 violent incidents per 100k residents versus 390.5 in Illinois (FBI UCR 2022).
Violent Crime Rate Comparison
Safety
Illinois vs Iowa: Violent Crime Rate
Iowa has a lower violent crime rate than Illinois.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for violent crime rate.
Illinois
#30 · 390.5
Iowa
#16 · 277.2
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Violent Crime Rate
Lower is better
#1
Maine
109.8
Maine
#2
New Hampshire
164.4
New Hampshire
#3
Connecticut
178.0
Connecticut
#4
Vermont
187.6
Vermont
#5
New Jersey
188.9
New Jersey
#6
Virginia
195.2
Virginia
#7
Rhode Island
215.5
Rhode Island
#8
Wyoming
216.5
Wyoming
#9
Kentucky
218.6
Kentucky
#10
Idaho
224.7
Idaho
Selected states
#30
Illinois
390.5
Illinois
#16
Iowa
277.2
Iowa
Illinois ranks 30th and Iowa ranks 16th nationally for violent crime rate.
Safety Context
Economic and demographic factors behind the violent crime rate difference.
Safety
Poverty
Iowa has a lower poverty rate
Economic stress and crime are closely tied. Iowa's poverty rate is 11.3%, compared with 11.6% in Illinois.
View detailed comparisonIncome
Illinois has higher household income
States with stronger median incomes tend to have lower crime rates. Illinois leads at $78,433 vs $70,571 in Iowa.
View detailed comparisonPopulation Density
Illinois is more densely populated
Urban density often correlates with higher crime rates. Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi vs 56.7 in Iowa.
View detailed comparisonSafety Snapshot
Illinois
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
390.5
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
11.6%
Median household income
$78,433
Population density
221.2 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
4.6%
Iowa
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
277.2
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
11.3%
Median household income
$70,571
Population density
56.7 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
3.5%
What Stands Out
- Iowa has the lower violent crime rate at 277.2 per 100k.
- Iowa has the lower poverty rate.
- Illinois has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
Illinois vs Iowa: Violent Crime Rate in context
Iowa has a violent crime rate of 277.2, compared with 390.5 in Illinois. Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
Illinois
390.5
Iowa
277.2
Difference
113.3 per 100k
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Iowa Violent Crime Rate — Common Questions
Q What is Illinois's violent crime rate?
Illinois's violent crime rate is 390.5.
Q What is Iowa's violent crime rate?
Iowa's violent crime rate is 277.2.
Q Which state has a lower violent crime rate — Illinois or Iowa?
Iowa has a lower violent crime rate than Illinois.
More Comparisons: Illinois vs Iowa
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.