Last Updated on: 20th September 2024, 09:45 pm
Nestled along the banks of the Peoria River, the City of Peoria, Illinois, is a popular place to reside. It is the largest city on the Illinois River, known for being a hub of agricultural activity. On top of these facts, Peoria is also known for being one of the Top 10 Best Mannered Cities in the nation, having the world’s most beautiful drive (as stated by Theodore Roosevelt), and for its gorgeous outdoor spaces.
But with all that’s amazing about Peoria, the question is often raised – is Peoria IL safe?
If you’re thinking about moving to Peoria in the near future, learning about the Peoria IL crime rate is a big deal.
By reviewing the latest data on overall crime, violent crime, property crime, and other Peoria IL crime statistics, you’ll be able to make the most informed decision as to where you settle down. As your dedicated moving company in the area, we don’t just have personal experience on the topic, but utilize the latest statistics from the FBI to provide the most comprehensive overview to date.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Peoria Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
Few people are experts at collecting and assessing crime data for a given city. Therefore, to best understand the crime rate in Peoria IL, it is important to know how it is calculated and how to review it properly.
Put simply, crime rates come from FBI data that is submitted by various law enforcement agencies. Almost every city collects data on the following: overall crime rates, property crime rates, and violent crime rates. Let’s break these down:
- Overall Crime Rate: Total number of all reported crimes in a city, combining both property and violent crimes.
- Property Crime Rate: Measures crimes like burglary, theft, and arson that involve taking or damaging property.
- Violent Crime Rate: Reflects serious offenses like assault, robbery, and homicide that involve force or threat of force.
What’s the best strategy for assessing the crime rate in Peoria? According to the FBI, law enforcement experts discourage using crime rates alone to compare the other cities, as data can be skewed.
For example, did gang violence spike due to particular socioeconomic pressures, or was there a temporary increase in property crimes linked to seasonal changes or economic downturns? Understanding these underlying factors helps provide a clearer picture of what the statistics really mean and can guide more effective community responses and personal safety decisions.
Be sure to keep all of this in mind when navigating Peoria IL crime statistics, as crime rates often lie or are misleading:
- Peoria crime index data does not include every offense committed within the city. Due to a variety of factors, only index crimes are included.
- One reason for the above is that not all crimes are reported to the police. For example, in cases of domestic violence, only a fraction of these crimes are ever reported, and surprisingly, shootings are not included in FBI stats.
- Errors in using crime reporting best practices can cause discrepancies in the total crime rate in Illinois, as well as the Peoria crime rate.
- Peoria crime rates can be somewhat misleading, as they do not separate a city into its safest/least safe neighborhoods. This can make it challenging to discern high crime areas of Peoria and low crime areas of Peoria by using citywide data alone.
- When evaluating the question “Is Peoria safe?”, it is necessary to review the context surrounding drops and increases in crime categories from year to year.
What should be the main takeaway from the above information? As with all cities, crime in Peoria needs to be evaluated carefully and within the proper context, and instead of aiming to compare Peoria IL crime rate statistics to other cities, you should focus on how these numbers tell the story of Peoria alone.
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Crime rates for a given city are a highly useful tool; however, this data should not be the sole way to determine if a specific area within the city is safe. Crime statistics Peoria IL should always be used as a starting point for your research, but there’s always more to the picture.
On top of this helpful info, it is also worthwhile to know that most crime rates are based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system. In 2021, this system was replaced with National Incident-Based Reporting Systems (NIBRS). For this article’s sake, we’ll be looking into the most recent 2022 FBI data.
The National Incident-Based Reporting Systems (NIBRS) does the following:
- Records data on a more extensive list of crimes
- Classifies 20+ crime categories (UCR only had eight categories)
- Separates attempted and completed crimes
- Mandates that agencies submit detailed reports about all offenses committed during a single crime incident
What Is the Peoria IL Crime Rate?
- Peoria total crime rate: 4,327 per 100,000 people, 86.2% higher than the national average crime rate
- Peoria property crime rate: 3,138 per 100,000 people, 60.6% higher than the national average crime rate
- Peoria violent crime rate: 1,189 per 100,000 people, 221.5% higher than the national average crime rate
- Chance of being the victim of crime in Peoria: 1 in 23
How does the crime rate in Peoria IL compare with the Illinois crime rate as a whole?
Overall, the total Peoria crime rate is 119.6% higher than the Illinois state average, while the Peoria IL violent crime rate is 313.9% greater than the state average.
Property crime rates in Peoria IL are the most encouraging figures at 86.5% lower rate than the state average.
While these crime statistics Peoria IL may seem high, that doesn’t mean Peoria isn’t ‘safe’, as a majority of crimes occur in specific areas within the city, but you always want to remain aware of your surroundings and take extra precautions, no matter where you are!
Crime Map Peoria IL & Crime Reports
Want to know where you can access a Peoria IL crime map that breaks down crime by each Peoria neighborhood? This valuable map provides a visual representation of the safest places to live in Peoria, and the dangerous areas of Peoria.
Additionally, the City of Peoria provides a CrimeView crime analysis that shows current and historical data.
Violent Crime in Peoria
- Peoria murder rate per 100k: 22 (182.1% higher than the Illinois average, and 246.6% greater than the U.S. average)
- Peoria violent crime rate per 100k: 1,189 (313.9% higher than the state average, 221.5% greater than the national violent crime rate)
- Total number of violent crimes: 1,314
- Chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Peoria: 1 in 84
Although the violent crime rate in Peoria is high, these crimes are often targeted crimes, such as gang violence. So while your chance of being a victim of violent crime is technically higher, much comes down to the community you associate with and the places you go.
Property Crime in Peoria
- Peoria property crime rate per 100k: 3,138 (86.5% higher than the Illinois average)
- Total property crimes: 3,469
- Chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Peoria: 1 in 32
With higher property crime statistics Peoria IL you should always take precautions like locking your vehicle and home and don’t leave valuables where they can be easily seen or accessed.
High Crime Areas of Peoria
Want to know some of the highest crime spots to avoid in Peoria? Check out this list of the least safe neighborhoods in Peoria.
- East Peoria: With a 1 in 13 chance of being the victim of a crime, East Peoria is one of the Peoria area’s most dangerous places to live. Situated across the river from the Peoria city center, overall, violent, and property crimes are very high in this community.
- Cottage District: According to the latest crime maps, the Cottage District in Peoria has some of the city’s highest crime rates across all categories.
- Central Business District: Despite its charming setting, the city’s thriving business district is also known for its high crime rates.
- Averyville: Located directly on the river near the Peoria Zoo, crime maps also show a significantly higher rate of crime in this neighborhood when compared to the rest of Peoria.
- Along SW Jefferson Ave.: Be wary when in areas that SW Jefferson Avenue runs through and areas along the Illinois River, as they typically feature higher Peoria IL crime statistics.
Safest Neighborhoods in Peoria
There are plenty of places that are considered to be safe neighborhoods in Peoria. Explore some of the best Peoria neighborhoods.
- Germantown Hills: Nestled eight miles away from the city center, Germantown Hills is one of the safest neighborhoods in Peoria. Overall crime is 74% lower than the national average, property crime rates are 76% lower than the U.S. average, and violent crimes are 67% lower.
- Northwest Peoria: With a 1 in 64 chance of becoming a victim of a crime, Northwest Peoria is one of the area’s safest neighborhoods.
- Bellevue: Cozy, quiet, and suburban, Bellevue maintains lower than average crime rates compared to Illinois and U.S. averages.
- Mossville: Encompassing the scenic Robert Rutherford Wildlife Sanctuary, life in Mossville is safe and serene.
- West Peoria: While technically a city of its own, the area of West Peoria has a much better crime rating than other sections of the Peoria proper.
Peoria Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Peoria
- Peoria homeowners: Think about installing either a professionally monitored or self-monitored security system. Equipment can include an alarm, outdoor cameras, indoor cameras, glass break detectors, motion detectors, lights, and more.
- Don’t forget to lock all doors; this includes your home and vehicles. Even if you reside in a safe neighborhood, homes and vehicles are always subject to break-ins, and definitely invest in a safe.
- Need to venture to a high-crime part of Peoria? Don’t go out after dark if possible, always let someone know where you’re going, and be vigilant during the day.
- If you have to go out after dark, consider carrying pepper spray. Always be vigilant of your surroundings to ensure that no one can sneak up on you.
Peoria Police Department
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- Chief of Police: Chief Eric Echevarria, sworn in on July 30, 2021
- Officers: 196
- Non-emergency number: 309-673-4521
- Address: Peoria Police Department, 600 SW Adams St, Peoria, IL 61602.
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Serving the entire City of Peoria, the Peoria Police Department currently employs a total of 196 officers, as well as 223 total law enforcement employees. This department makes it easy to view police reports, stats, and the Peoria crime map through its detailed online resources. Their website also features press releases, an online payments portal, an Abandoned Vehicle Report Form, and a Civilian Complaint Form.
Peoria Crime Rate FAQ
Is Peoria Safer than Springfield?
Peoria is almost as safe as Springfield. While Springfield’s total crime rate is actually 35% higher than Peoria IL, Springfield features much lower violent crime rates and murder rates.
How Safe Is Peoria?
Especially when considering the fact that it is a metro area, Peoria is a relatively safe place to live. The city also benefits from a proactive police presence and community initiatives aimed at improving safety. Throughout the city, there are plenty of safe neighborhoods for residents to enjoy.
What Is the Peoria Crime rate?
The Peoria crime rate is 4,327 per 100,000 residents. Locals have a 1 in 23 chance of becoming the victim of a crime.
Just like in any city, crime is present in Peoria. However, there are many safe places to consider if you’re interested in living in Peoria. Thoroughly researching each community throughout the city and understanding crime statistics Peoria IL will help you choose one with low crime.
When you’re getting ready to relocate to Peoria, be sure to contact our Peoria IL movers at Federal Companies – at 800-747-4100 – for a no-cost quote.
We’re here to help with a variety of moving services, from local moves in Central Illinois to helping with long distance moving needs, whether you’re headed into or out of the city!
