Downers Grove, IL vs Palatine, IL: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Downers Grove and Palatine, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Downers Grove and Palatine are neck and neck
Both score 90/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Downers Grove wins 1 of 8 offense categories, Palatine wins 7.
Downers Grove, IL
Crime Index
- Population
- 50,647
- Violent / 100k
- 79
- Property / 100k
- 766
- In Illinois
- #8 of 29
Palatine, IL
Crime Index
- Population
- 65,532
- Violent / 100k
- 85.5
- Property / 100k
- 702
- In Illinois
- #9 of 29
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Downers Grove | Palatine | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 90A | 90A | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 79 | 85.5 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 766 | 702 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 2 | 1.5 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 845 | 787 | 1,802 |
Grade shown per index band (88–100 = A … 0–29 = F). Rates are reported offenses per 100,000 residents.
By offense
Rate per 100,000 residents — the lower (safer) city is highlighted.
| Offense | Downers Grove | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 1.5 |
| Rape | 11.8 | 30.5 |
| Robbery | 13.8 | 7.6 |
| Aggravated assault | 51.3 | 45.8 |
| Burglary | 82.9 | 56.5 |
| Larceny-theft | 614 | 603 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 57.3 | 38.1 |
| Arson | 11.8 | 4.6 |
Crime trends
Downers Grove
Palatine
Frequently asked questions
Is Downers Grove or Palatine safer?
Which has more violent crime, Downers Grove or Palatine?
What are the odds of violent crime in Downers Grove vs Palatine?
No area has zero risk
A high Crime Index score means lower reported crime relative to other US cities — it is not a guarantee of safety. Reported crime is not the same as actual crime. Research on the gap between crime that occurs and crime that gets reported to police — often called the "dark figure" of crime — estimates that roughly 40% of violent crime and about a third of property crime go unreported each year. Every index built on official statistics, including this one, necessarily undercounts real crime. That gap is exactly why homicide — the offense with the smallest dark figure — anchors the calculation instead of a more commonly reported but less reliable category like theft.
Scores on this page reflect FBI-reported data for 2025. See the full methodology →
Protecting yourself in Downers Grove & Palatine
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