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Rockford is the largest city in Illinois outside Chicagoland. Despite being ranked as one of the top 25 most dangerous places in the U.S., Rockford was ranked one of the best places to live in America by U.S. News and World Report in 2023 and one of the best places to retire. U.S. News considered crime data along with Census Bureau data, information from the Department of Labor, and internal resources. That shows how much Rockford, Illinois, has to offer in other important areas like quality of life and affordability.
It's natural to be concerned about crime before moving to a new city or neighborhood. While the Rockford IL crime rate is high, violent crime has been declining for the past three years. A recent poll from the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau also found 17% of residents feel safer compared to five years ago, and 25% fewer people feel unsafe. Here's everything you should know about crime in Rockford.
Understanding the Rockford Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
Rockford crime rates are based on information reported to the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). It replaced the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which reported crime rates based on eight familiar "index" crimes categorized as property or violent crime. By comparison, the NIBRS collects data from law enforcement on 52 crime categories ranging from drug crimes and crimes against society to familiar property crimes. It also features a more robust reporting system with detailed information about the offender, victim, relationship, and multiple offenses committed in a single incident.
In general, a higher crime index means a city has more crime than average. While crime rates can be helpful, make sure you understand the limitations. The FBI warns Americans against comparing city crime rates for many reasons. The Rockford, Illinois, crime rate only includes offenses reported to police. Departments may define crimes differently which affects reporting and rates between cities. A crime rate can also be misleading: a single neighborhood can account for a disproportionate share of a city's crime, while victims becoming more willing to report crime can make it seem like crime is actually on the rise.
The most important takeaway? The Rockford crime rate is not a good reflection of your risk of being the victim of crime.
According to 2022 FBI crime statistics, the national average crime rate was 2,324 crimes per 100,000 people, with 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people. How does Rockford crime compare?
In 2022, the Rockford crime rate was 4,065 total crimes per 100,000 and 1,430 violent crimes per 100,000. The city had a crime rate 75% higher than the national average and a violent crime rate 287% higher. The Illinois crime rate was even lower: 1,970 total crimes and 287 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Overall, crime dropped 3% in the city from 2022 to 2023. Violent crime had the most dramatic drop.
2023 Rockford crime rates:
Overall crime rate: 3,923 total offenses per 100,000 people
Violent crime rate: 1,162 violent offenses per 100,000 people
Property crime rate: 2,761 property offenses per 100,000 people
Violent Crime Rate in Rockford, Illinois
The 2023 violent crime rate in Rockford was 1,162 violent offenses per 100,000 people.
Violent crimes: 1,727 (down from 2,149 in 2022 and 2,331 in 2021)
Homicides: 20 (up 33% from 15 in 2022; all-time high of 36 in 2020)
Aggravated assaults: 1,396 (down 20% from 1,740 in 2022)
Robberies: 228 (down 7% from 246 in 2022)
Shots fired: 437 (down 31% from 629 in 2022)
Gunfire victims: 105 (down 30% from 2022)
Guns recovered: 303 (down 25% from 387 in 2022 and 433 in 2021)
Violent crime rates in the city have been declining for three years. Between 2022 and 2023, violent crime was down 19%. Aggravated assault and firearm violence have experienced the most dramatic declines. Still, Rockford has the third-highest rate of aggravated assault among small cities (10,000 to 249,999 residents). There were 1,194 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people in 2022.
The Rockford murder rate was 13.5 murders per 100,000 people in 2023. That's up from 10 homicides per 100,000 in 2022. In 2020, homicides in Rockford spiked in a trend seen in many cities across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rockford murder rate reached an all-time high in 2020, with 36 murders or 24 murders per 100,000 people.
The homicide clearance rate reached 85%, the highest ever and up from 53% in 2022.
While Rockford has a high violent crime rate, 44.1% of violent crimes in 2023 were domestic-related, up from 38.2% in 2022. You are unlikely to experience random violence from a stranger.
In 2022, 472 of the violent crime offenses involved handguns, and another 443 involved personal weapons.
Property Crime in Rockford IL
The 2023 Rockford property crime rate was 2,761 property offenses per 100,000 people. There were 4,105 property crimes, up 3% from 3,989 in 2022, including burglary, theft, and vandalism. While violent crime rates have been declining, property crime rates have been rising in Rockford.
There were 795 motor vehicle thefts, up 2% year over year. According to Police Chief Redd, residents should be aware of behavior that increases the risk of auto thefts including leaving a vehicle unlocked and running to warm up in the winter and leaving valuables visible in a car. Certain vehicles are targets due to manufacturer defects that make them easier to steal.
Rockford IL Crime Map & Crime Reports
RockStat is the archive of crime statistics from the Rockford Police Department. You can explore crime by neighborhood using a crime map. This map uses data from the police department to display crime by type and neighborhood.
The Most Dangerous Areas of Rockford, Illinois
There are two neighborhoods in Rockford that stand out for high violent crime rates. The area around East Jefferson & Seventh Street is the most dangerous neighborhood in Rockford. This area, stretching along Kishwaukee Street to the Rock River, covers part of downtown Rockford and Midtown.
The second-most dangerous area is around West State Street & Rockton Avenue. This west-side neighborhood includes Fairgrounds Park. In general, the southwest part of the city has higher-than-average crime.
Rockford IL Safety Tips
Submit tips to the Rockford Police Department. You can report crime anonymously by texting RPDTIP and your tip to 847411. You can also use the web-based TIP411 app to report incidents or the Rockford PD app.
Download the Rockford PD app (Google Play Store and App Store) to access public safety resources and sign up for alerts about neighborhood crime, important community information, and public safety issues.
For Rockford University students and faculty: the LiveSafe app is used for the RU ALERT system to communicate information about campus emergencies, share your location with emergency responders, report suspicious activity, or request a virtual SafeWalk.
Address: 557 S. New Towne Drive, Rockford, IL 61108
Non-emergency number: (779) 500-6555 or (815) 966-2900 to request non-emergency officer response
The Rockford Police Department serves the community with Operations (Patrol) and Investigations Divisions and several community safety programs. The law enforcement department operates a Community Services Unit with assigned officers who work with residents to solve problems and reduce crimes in their neighborhood. This may include assessing homes and businesses and providing reports with security suggestions or attending neighborhood meetings and gathering feedback about quality of life or safety issues in the area.
One of the department’s objectives is to use technology to improve public safety. The RPD has a Community Camera Network that allows residents and businesses to register private surveillance cameras with the department. Cameras are placed on a map for the department to use if there are crimes in the area. Information is only used if there is a crime in the area to identify or apprehend suspects or see how a crime happened.
In 2023, the department:
Issued 4,747 traffic citations and 671 written warnings
Investigated 203 hit-and-run accidents and 17 fatal traffic accidents
The Rockford, Illinois crime rate is 3,923 crimes per 100,000 people in 2023. That includes 1,162 violent crimes and 2,761 property crimes per 100,000.
Is Rockford, Illinois Safe?
Rockford is ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for its size. However, violent crime is declining thanks to many effective policies, community interventions, and programs. Many residents also report feeling safe in the city. About 44% of violent crime in the city is domestic violence, not random crime. Most gun violence involves victims also engaged in crime.
What Is the Rockford Crime Rate vs Chicago?
The Chicago crime rate is 3,673 total crimes per 100,000 versus 3,923 total crimes per 100,000 in Rockford. Chicago has 540 violent crimes per 100,000 compared to 1,162 violent offenses per 100,000 in Rockford.Is moving to Rockford in your future? With StraightLine Moving, you can enjoy a seamless and worry-free moving experience. Call our Rockford movers today at (815) 708-7875 to discuss your upcoming relocation and get a free, personalized moving quote.
