O'Hare Crime Rates and Safety Rankings
Planning to live, visit, or move to O'Hare? Here's what you need to know to stay safe.
This article analyzes O'Hare’s most recent crime data, drawing on statistics from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, to determine if the neighborhood is safe or dangerous.
We use a 0-100 crime rate scale. Higher scores mean more crime and greater danger.
We'll compare O'Hare to Chicago, Illinois state and national averages, look at crime trends, and highlight key safety concerns. Read on for essential facts and tips on protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your property in O'Hare.
Crime and safety snapshot
How dangerous is O'Hare? Crime rates here are above average. The overall crime rate is 64/100, with violent crime at 68/100 and property crime at 56/100. These numbers indicate that crime occurs more frequently here than in other areas of this city. While not the most dangerous neighborhood, being more cautious and aware of your surroundings is advisable.
O'Hare safety ranking in Chicago
To put these crime rates in context, let's examine how O'Hare ranks among Chicago's 224 neighborhoods:
- Overall Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): 7th
- Violent Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): 17th
- Property Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): 19th
O'Hare ranks as one of the safest Chicago neighborhoods regarding violent crime. In terms of property crime, it ranks as one of the safest in the city.
Is O'Hare Getting Safer or More Dangerous?
Now, let's take a closer look at how safety in O'Hare has changed over time.
Has O'Hare become safer (2023 vs. 2022)?
Overall Crime: Decreased by 1 point
Violent Crime: Increased by 2 points
Property Crime: Decreased by 4 points
Between 2022 and 2023, O'Hare has seen a small improvement in safety. This modest decrease in crime rates is a step in the right direction, even if it's not immediately apparent.
How has crime in O'Hare changed over the years?
Note: We've excluded 2020-2021 from trend comparison analyses due to the unusual crime patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing instead on comparing current data to pre-pandemic trends.
Overall crime rates
Compared to pre-pandemic years (2017 and 2019), O'Hare is slightly more dangerous. Violent crime increase by 3 points. Property crime increase by 6 points.
Crimes to be Careful of in O'Hare
Whether you live in or visit O'Hare, understanding the frequency of various crimes can help you navigate daily life more safely. By knowing which offenses are more common, you can take appropriate precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property in O'Hare.
How common are violent crimes in O'Hare?
In O'Hare, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is significantly elevated.
Here's a breakdown of risk levels for specific violent crimes:
- Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): Significantly elevated
- Rape (sexual assault): Above average
- Robbery (theft by force or threat): Significantly elevated
- Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): Significantly elevated
While in O'Hare, watch out for the following crimes and take action to stay safe:
- Murder/Homicide and Aggravated Assault: This area sees more violent physical attacks than safer parts of town. After dark, be extra cautious. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and stay alert. If you encounter trouble, shout for help and head to a crowded area. Staying sober is crucial—it helps you stay sharp, spot potential danger from afar, and reduce the chance of becoming a target. If you feel uneasy, duck into a store or another safe place until things seem calmer.
- Rape: Women should be cautious, as sexual assaults are a serious concern here. Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Go out with friends or use trusted ride services. Stay vigilant in quiet areas. Consider carrying pepper spray or a whistle for protection. If threatened, scream for help and run towards busy spots or open businesses.
- Robbery: Muggings are more frequent here. Consider keeping valuables hidden—using a money belt can help protect your belongings.
How frequent are property crimes in O'Hare?
The risk of becoming a victim of property crime in O'Hare is significantly elevated.
Here's a breakdown of risk levels for individual property crimes:
- Burglary (home break-ins): Rare
- Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): Significantly elevated
- Auto Theft (car stealing): Significantly elevated
- Arson (intentional fire-setting): Significantly elevated
If you own or rent property in O'Hare, regularly use a vehicle in the area, or frequently spend time in public spaces here:
- Protect yourself from pickpocketers and bag snatchers — be vigilant with personal belongings in public, secure your bag, and be aware of pickpocketing risks in crowded areas.
- Protect your car — lock it every time you leave, keep valuable items out of sight, install a car alarm if possible, and make sure you have adequate car insurance for extra peace of mind.
- Be mindful of arson risks — protect your property by keeping it well-lit, removing flammable materials from around buildings, getting comprehensive fire insurance coverage, and installing smoke detectors on every floor.
Violent Crime in O'Hare
How safe are O'Hare’s streets? We'll examine how common violent crimes are for residents and visitors alike and how these rates have changed over time.
O'Hare has a violent crime rate of 68 out of 100. To put this in perspective, Chicago's violent crime rate in 2023 is 68/100, while the US average violent crime rate for that year is 57/100.
This places the neighborhood above average in crime.
Breakdown of violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault)
Here are the latest crime rates for specific violent offenses:
- Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): 74/100 - a significant issue, 14 points higher than the US average.
- Rape (sexual assault): 45/100 - at an average level, 10 points lower than the US average.
- Robbery (theft by force or threat): 77/100 - a significant issue, 25 points higher than the US average.
- Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): 76/100 - a significant issue, 19 points higher than the US average.
O'Hare’s violent crime ranking in Chicago
In terms of violent crime rates, among the 224 neighborhoods in Chicago, O'Hare ranks as one of the most secure.
Here's how O'Hare ranks within Chicago for each type of violent crime:
- Murder: Ranks 3rd, as one of the most secure.
- Rape: Ranks 12th, as one of the most secure.
- Robbery: Ranks 24th, as one of the most secure.
- Aggravated Assault: Ranks 7th, as one of the most secure.
Is O'Hare getting safer from violent crime (2023 vs. 2022)?
To understand how O'Hare’s safety is evolving, let's look at how crime rates have changed recently.
From 2022 to 2023, O'Hare has become slightly more dangerous from violent crime.
Let's examine the year-over-year changes for each type of violent crime:
- The murder crime rate decrease by 1 point, now slightly safer.
- The rape crime rate increase by 1 point, now slightly more dangerous.
- The robbery crime rate increase by 4 points, now moderately more dangerous.
- The aggravated assault crime rate increase by 3 points, now slightly more dangerous.
How has violent crime in O'Hare changed over the years?
Violent crime rates
Comparing O'Hare now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, violent crime is unchanged.
Rape crime rates
Property Crime in O'Hare
While violent crimes often grab headlines, it's property crimes that might affect residents and visitors more frequently. Whether you live in O'Hare or are just passing through, understanding the property crime situation can help you protect your belongings—from home burglaries to pickpocketing and bag snatching. Let's look closely at property crime in O'Hare and how it impacts locals and travelers.
O'Hare has a property crime rate of 56 out of 100. This indicates the area has average crime levels.
For context, Chicago's property crime rate in 2023 is 56/100, while the US average property crime rate for that year is 47/100.
Breakdown of property crime rates (burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson)
Here are the latest crime rates for specific property offenses:
- Burglary (home break-ins): 19/100-relatively uncommon, 23 points lower than the US average.
- Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): 77/100-a significant issue, 34 points higher than the US average.
- Auto Theft (car stealing): 86/100-a major concern, 25 points higher than the US average.
- Arson (intentional fire-setting): 70/100-more frequent than average, 15 points higher than the US average.
O'Hare’s property crime ranking in Chicago
O'Hare ranks as one of the safest neighborhoods out of 224 areas in Chicago.Here's how O'Hare ranks within Chicago for each type of property crime:
- Burglary: Ranks 19th, as one of the most secure.
- Larceny: Ranks 64th, slightly safer than average.
- Auto Theft: Ranks 21st, as one of the most secure.
- Arson: Ranks 14th, as one of the most secure.
Is O'Hare getting safer from property crime (2023 vs. 2022)?
From 2022 to 2023, O'Hare has become safer from property crime.Let's examine the year-over-year changes for each type of property crime:
- Burglary: Decrease by 17 points, now noticeably safer.
- Larceny: Decrease by 8 points, now moderately safer.
- Auto Theft: Increase by 7 points, now moderately more dangerous.
- Arson: Increase by 38 points, now drastically more dangerous.
How has property crime in O'Hare changed over the years?
Property crime rates
Comparing O'Hare now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, property crime is slightly higher by 2 points.
Nearest Neighborhoods by Crime Rate
Whether you're considering living in O'Hare or planning a visit, here's how nearby neighborhoods compare in terms of crime rates and safety.
| Neighborhood | Overall Crime | Violent Crime | Property Crime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oriole Park | 64 | 68 | 55 |
| Schorsch Forest View | 68 | 73 | 57 |
| Union Ridge | 68 | 73 | 58 |
| Big Oaks | 68 | 73 | 58 |
| Dunning | 62 | 65 | 55 |
Among nearby areas, Dunning has the lowest overall crime rate, making it an alternative to consider if you're concerned about O'Hare’s safety.
Explore the crime and safety ranking of all neighborhoods in Chicago.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
To answer the question, is O'Hare, Chicago, safe or dangerous? Now that we've reviewed O'Hare’s crime and safety details, let's sum up the main points so you can decide if it's a place you'd want to live in or visit, what to be careful of, and how to stay safe if you go there:
Crime statistics
- O'Hare’s overall crime rate: 64/100
- Safety ranking: 19 out of 224 neighborhoods in Chicago.
- Violent crime rate: 68/100 (0 points lower than Chicago's average, 16 points higher than the national average.)
- Property crime rate: 56/100 (15 points lower than Chicago's average, 9 points higher than the national average.)
Based on these crime statistics, O'Hare is somewhat dangerous. You should exercise increased caution in this area.
Crime trends
Comparing 2023 to 2022:
- Overall: Less dangerous by 1 point.
- Violent crime: Now slightly more dangerous than in 2022.
- Property crime: Now marginally safer than in 2022.
Top crimes in O'Hare:
- Auto Theft: 86/100.
- Robbery: 77/100.
- Larceny: 77/100.
If you live in or visit O'Hare, stay vigilant and take these precautions:
- O'Hare has lots of car thefts. Always lock your car, even for quick stops. Never leave it running alone. Use a steering wheel or pedal lock; these can scare off thieves. If you can, put a GPS tracker in your car. Avoid parking on the street here, especially on quiet, dark streets. If you must, choose spots under streetlights or near security cameras.
- O'Hare has a high robbery rate. Keep valuables out of sight and use a money belt hidden under your clothes. Be especially careful near ATMs. If confronted by a robber, stay calm and comply with their demands—no possession is worth risking your life. If you can run fast and it's safe to do so, running might be an option. Otherwise, don't make sudden movements that could escalate the situation.
- O'Hare has high rates of theft. This includes pickpocketing, bag snatching, and shoplifting. Always stay alert, especially in crowded areas. Keep your bag in front of you, not on your back or shoulder, where it's easy to grab. In restaurants, keep your bag on your lap or between your feet, not hanging on your chair. Use a hidden money belt for cash and cards. Watch your phone; thieves often snatch phones from distracted users. Shopkeepers should be extra vigilant and consider security cameras. Visitors to O'Hare are often targets; if you're a tourist, don't carry all your valuables at once, and be extra careful in busy tourist spots.
Nearby neighborhoods
Areas with the lowest crime rates near O'Hare:
- Lowest violent crime rates: Dunning, Oriole Park, Schorsch Forest View.
- Lowest property crime rates: Oriole Park, Dunning, Schorsch Forest View.
The assessments presented on this website, including those related to crime, safety, cost of living, and other location characteristics (e.g., states, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, areas, landmarks), are based on various sources and our internal research methods. These assessments are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete and should not be used as the sole basis for making any decisions.