Is Wicker Park, Chicago, Safe to Live or Visit in 2024?

Wicker Park Crime Rates and Safety Rankings

Planning to live, visit, or move to Wicker Park? Here's what you need to know to stay safe.

This article analyzes Wicker Park’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 Wicker Park to Chicago 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 Wicker Park.

Crime and safety snapshot

How dangerous is Wicker Park? The area has some significant safety challenges. The crime rate is high at 73/100, with violent crime at 76/100 and property crime at 66/100. These numbers indicate that crime is a frequent issue in this area. If you're living in or visiting Wicker Park, it's crucial to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure your safety.

Wicker Park safety ranking in Chicago

Wicker Park ranks slightly safer than average Chicago neighborhoods regarding violent crime. In terms of property crime, it ranks slightly safer than average in the city.

Is Wicker Park Getting Safer or More Dangerous?

Now, let's take a closer look at how safety in Wicker Park has changed over time.

Has Wicker Park become safer (2023 vs. 2022)?

Crime statistics indicate that Wicker Park’s safety level has remained largely unchanged between 2022 and 2023. The neighborhood hasn't seen any significant shifts in crime rates during this period.

How has crime in Wicker Park 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), Wicker Park is slightly more dangerous. Violent crime increased by 4 points. Property crime increased by 7 points.

Crimes to be Careful of in Wicker Park

Whether you live in or visit Wicker Park, 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 Wicker Park.

How common are violent crimes in Wicker Park?

In Wicker Park, 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): Significantly elevated
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): Significantly elevated
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): Significantly elevated

While in Wicker Park, 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 Wicker Park?

• Burglary (home break-ins): Above average
• 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 Wicker Park, regularly use a vehicle in the area, or frequently spend time in public spaces here:

• Secure your property from home break-ins — install good-quality locks, consider a home security system, and keep windows and doors secure.

• 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 Wicker Park

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): 76/100 - a significant issue, 16 points higher than the US average.
• Rape (sexual assault): 71/100 - a significant issue, 16 points higher than the US average.
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): 79/100 - a significant issue, 27 points higher than the US average.
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): 78/100 - a significant issue, 21 points higher than the US average.

Wicker Park’s violent crime ranking in Chicago

In terms of violent crime rates, among the 224 neighborhoods in Chicago, Wicker Park ranks slightly safer than average.

Here's how Wicker Park ranks within Chicago for each type of violent crime:

• Murder: Ranks 53rd, safer than most.

• Rape: Ranks 94th, slightly safer than average.

• Robbery: Ranks 54th, safer than most.

• Aggravated Assault: Ranks 54th, safer than most.

Is Wicker Park getting safer from violent crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

• The murder crime rate decreased by 1 point, now slightly safer.
• The rape crime rate increased by 1 point, now slightly more dangerous.
• The robbery crime rate remained unchanged, now largely unchanged.
• The aggravated assault crime rate increased by 4 points, now moderately more dangerous.

How has violent crime in Wicker Park changed over the years?

Violent crime rates

Comparing Wicker Park now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, violent crime is slightly higher by 3 points.

Rape crime rates

Property Crime in Wicker Park

While violent crimes often grab headlines, it's property crimes that might affect residents and visitors more frequently. Whether you live in Wicker Park 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 Wicker Park and how it impacts locals and travelers.

Wicker Park has a property crime rate of 66 out of 100. This places the neighborhood above average in crime.

For context, Chicago's property crime rate in 2023 is 66/100, 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): 44/100-at an average level, 2 points higher than the US average.
• Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): 78/100-a significant issue, 35 points higher than the US average.
• Auto Theft (car stealing): 87/100-a major concern, 26 points higher than the US average.
• Arson (intentional fire-setting): 71/100-more frequent than average, 16 points higher than the US average.

Wicker Park’s property crime ranking in Chicago

Wicker Park ranks as slightly safer than average out of 224 areas in Chicago.Here's how Wicker Park ranks within Chicago for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Ranks 78th, slightly safer than average.
• Larceny: Ranks 87th, slightly safer than average.
• Auto Theft: Ranks 54th, safer than most.
• Arson: Ranks 80th, slightly safer than average.

Is Wicker Park getting safer from property crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

From 2022 to 2023, Wicker Park has become marginally safer from property crime.Let's examine the year-over-year changes for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Decreased by 3 points, now slightly safer.
• Larceny: Decreased by 8 points, now moderately safer.
• Auto Theft: Increased by 8 points, now moderately more dangerous.
• Arson: Increased by 9 points, now moderately more dangerous.

How has property crime in Wicker Park changed over the years?

Property crime rates

Comparing Wicker Park now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, property crime is slightly higher by 4 points.

Nearest Neighborhoods by Crime Rate

Whether you're considering living in Wicker Park or planning a visit, here's how nearby neighborhoods compare in terms of crime rates and safety.

Among nearby areas, Palmer Square has the lowest overall crime rate, making it an alternative to consider if you're concerned about Wicker Park’s safety.

Explore the crime and safety ranking of all neighborhoods in Chicago.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

To answer the question, is Wicker Park, Chicago, safe or dangerous? Now that we've reviewed Wicker Park’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

• Wicker Park’s overall crime rate: 73/100
• Safety ranking: 122 out of 224 neighborhoods in Chicago.
• Violent crime rate: 76/100 (8 points higher than Chicago's average, 24 points higher than the national average.)
• Property crime rate: 66/100 (5 points lower than Chicago's average, 19 points higher than the national average.)

Based on these crime statistics, Wicker Park is quite dangerous. You need to be highly alert at all times.

Crime trends

Comparing 2023 to 2022:

• Overall crime: Remained unchanged.
• Violent crime: Now slightly more dangerous than in 2022.
• Property crime: Now marginally safer than in 2022.

Top crimes in Wicker Park:

• Auto Theft: 87/100.
• Robbery: 79/100.
• Aggravated Assault: 78/100.

If you live in or visit Wicker Park, stay vigilant and take these precautions:

• Wicker Park 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.

• Wicker Park 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.

• Wicker Park has high rates of violent crime. Avoid being out alone, especially after dark. Stick to well-lit main streets and stay alert to your surroundings. If you spot potential trouble from afar (drunk people, strange behavior, or groups), cross the street or calmly turn back. Don't engage with strangers in isolated areas. If attacked, shout loudly to draw attention and try to escape to a populated area if possible. Stay sober when in this area, as being intoxicated makes you an easier target. If you feel unsafe, duck into a store and stay there until it's safe to leave.

Nearby neighborhoods

Areas with the lowest crime rates near Wicker Park:

• Lowest violent crime rates: Palmer Square, Ukrainian Village, East Village Ukrainian Village.
• Lowest property crime rates: Palmer Square, Bucktown, Ukrainian Village.