North Shore Towns Among Safest In State

A new ranking of the crime rates in Illinois communities finds several of the state's safest cities are in Chicago's northern suburbs. In fact, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, some of the safety towns in the nation are in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Illinois has fewer per capita property crimes than most states but more violent crimes, according to the rankings. Its violent crime rate made it the 35th-safest state in the U.S., when adjusted for population, but it has the 18th lowest rate of property crimes.

Here's how communities across the north suburbs compared with the rest of Illinois in the ranking of more than 200 towns:

Buffalo Grove (#7)
Population: 41,511
Violent Crime: 13
Property Crimes: 208
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.31
Property Crimes per 1,000: 5.01

Lake Forest (#9)
Population: 19,410
Violent Crimes: 4
Property Crimes: 112
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.21
Property Crimes per 1,000: 5.77

Deerfield (#12)
Population: 19,176
Violent Crimes: 5
Property Crimes: 123
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.26
Property Crimes per 1,000: 6.41

Winnetka (#16)
Population: 12,526
Violent Crimes: 5
Property Crimes: 87
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.40
Property Crimes per 1,000: 6.95

Morton Grove (#36)
Population: 23,478
Violent Crimes: 11
Property Crimes: 207
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.47
Property Crimes per 1,000: 8.82

Highland Park (#39)
Population: 29,737
Violent Crimes: 21
Property Crimes: 265
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.71
Property Crimes per 1,000: 8.91

Des Plaines (#43)
Population: 58,726
Violent Crimes: 45
Property Crimes: 537
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.77
Property Crimes per 1,000: 9.14

Park Ridge (#45)
Population: 37,805
Violent Crimes: 12
Property Crimes: 375
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.32
Property Crimes per 1,000: 9.92

Arlington Heights (#48)
Population: 76,077
Violent Crimes: 58
Property Crimes: 722
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.76
Property Crimes per 1,000: 9.49

Mount Prospect (#49)
Population: 54,839
Violent Crimes: 26
Property Crimes: 565
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.47
Property Crimes per 1,000: 10.30

Northbrook (#55)
Population: 33,746
Violent Crimes: 11
Property Crimes: 382
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.33
Property Crimes per 1,000: 11.32

Wilmette (#56)
Population: 27,474
Violent Crimes: 11
Property Crimes: 308
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.40
Property Crimes per 1,000:11.21

Wheeling (#64)
Population: 38,158
Violent Crimes: 47
Property Crimes: 424
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.23
Property Crimes per 1,000: 11.11

Libertyville (#75)
Population: 20,454
Violent Crimes: 8
Property Crimes: 268
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.39
Property Crimes per 1,000: 13.10

Glenview (#80)
Population: 48,008
Violent Crimes: 41
Property Crimes: 611
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.85
Property Crimes per 1,000:12.73

Vernon Hills (#88)
Population: 26,574
Violent Crimes: 19
Property Crimes: 378
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.71
Property Crimes per 1,000: 14.22

Evanston (#138)
Population: 75,716
Violent Crimes: 130
Property Crimes: 1,671
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.72
Property Crimes per 1,000: 22.07

Niles (#139)
Population: 29,886
Violent Crimes: 29
Property Crimes: 702
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.97
Property Crimes per 1,000: 23.49

Skokie (#146)
Population: 64,819
Violent Crimes: 158
Property Crimes: 1,557
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.44
Property Crimes per 1,000: 24.02

Waukegan (#168)
Population: 88,337
Violent Crimes: 449
Property Crimes: 2,287
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 5.08
Property Crimes per 1,000: 25.89

Zion (#173)
Population: 24,067
Violent Crimes: 169
Property Crimes: 607
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 7.02
Property Crimes per 1,000: 25.22

Lincolnwood (#178)
Population: 12,655
Violent Crimes: 20
Property Crimes: 454
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.58
Property Crimes per 1,000: 35.88

Chicago was ranked 195th out of 206 cities listed, with a rate of more than 11 violent crimes and nearly 32 property crimes per 1,000 people.

Rounding out the bottom of the list were: Springfield, Rockford, East St. Louis, Mount Vernon, Lansing and Danville.

The five safest towns in Illinois were: Western Springs, Channahon, Campton Hills, Waterloo and Homer Glen.

» North Shore Towns Among Nation's 'Best Small Cities'

The rankings were compiled by reviewing the most recent FBI crime reporting data with population data. Cities with populations under 10,000 or that did not submit a complete crime report were eliminated from the list.

Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes, including aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery, as well as property crimes, like burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft per 1,000 people.

The variables were weighted to give violent crimes 150 percent of the impact of property crimes because of their relative severity, the council explained in its explanation of its methodology.

» More from the National Council for Home Safety and Security