Violent Crime
Wisconsin has 32% less violent crime
Wisconsin records 295.8 violent incidents per 100k residents versus 390.5 in Illinois (FBI UCR 2022).
Violent Crime Rate Comparison
Safety
Illinois vs Wisconsin: Violent Crime Rate
Wisconsin 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
Wisconsin
#20 · 295.8
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
#20
Wisconsin
295.8
Wisconsin
Illinois ranks 30th and Wisconsin ranks 20th nationally for violent crime rate.
Safety Context
Economic and demographic factors behind the violent crime rate difference.
Safety
Poverty
Wisconsin has a lower poverty rate
Economic stress and crime are closely tied. Wisconsin's poverty rate is 10.7%, 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 $71,887 in Wisconsin.
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 90.0 in Wisconsin.
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%
Wisconsin
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
295.8
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
10.7%
Median household income
$71,887
Population density
90.0 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
3.1%
What Stands Out
- Wisconsin has the lower violent crime rate at 295.8 per 100k.
- Wisconsin has the lower poverty rate.
- Illinois has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
Illinois vs Wisconsin: Violent Crime Rate in context
Wisconsin has a violent crime rate of 295.8, compared with 390.5 in Illinois. Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
Illinois
390.5
Wisconsin
295.8
Difference
94.7 per 100k
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Wisconsin Violent Crime Rate — Common Questions
Q What is Illinois's violent crime rate?
Illinois's violent crime rate is 390.5.
Q What is Wisconsin's violent crime rate?
Wisconsin's violent crime rate is 295.8.
Q Which state has a lower violent crime rate — Illinois or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a lower violent crime rate than Illinois.
More Comparisons: Illinois vs Wisconsin
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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.