Brookfield, IL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Brookfield, IL

How safe is Brookfield, IL overall?

Brookfield earns an overall crime grade of A-, placing it among the safer communities in Illinois. With a population of approximately 18,520 and a population density of 2,333 residents per square mile, the suburb maintains a low-crime profile that reflects its stable socioeconomic foundation. The unemployment rate sits at just 2.2% — well below national averages — and the poverty rate of 7.2% is modest for a Chicago-area suburb. These economic indicators correlate strongly with reduced crime risk. Compared to larger Cook County municipalities, Brookfield's A- grade signals that the vast majority of residents go about daily life without encountering serious criminal activity.

What is the crime rate in Brookfield, and how does it break down by type?

Brookfield's crime profile skews heavily toward property offenses rather than violent crime, which is typical for well-off suburbs with a median household income of $84,891. Property crimes — including vehicle theft, residential burglary, and retail theft — represent the most frequently reported incident categories. Violent crimes such as assault and robbery account for a significantly smaller share of total incidents and occur at rates well below state and national benchmarks. The city's A- overall grade reflects this favorable split: while no community is entirely free of crime, Brookfield's numbers indicate that serious, violent incidents are rare outliers rather than routine occurrences. Residents can consult the interactive crime map on this page to filter by incident type and date range for the most current breakdown.

Which neighborhoods in Brookfield have the lowest crime rates?

Brookfield's residential neighborhoods near Ehlert Park and the corridors along Prairie Avenue consistently benefit from active neighborhood watch participation and strong community cohesion — factors that research links to lower property crime rates. The areas surrounding the Brookfield Zoo on the city's south side see high foot traffic and corresponding police visibility, which tends to deter opportunistic offenses. Neighborhoods with higher owner-occupancy rates and median home values close to or above the city's $265,644 median tend to report fewer incidents. That said, Brookfield's overall A- grade means the difference in safety between its neighborhoods is relatively narrow — no single district stands out as a high-risk outlier.

How does Brookfield's crime grade compare to nearby suburbs?

An A- crime grade puts Brookfield in the top tier of Chicago-area suburbs. Communities with similar population sizes and density profiles often score in the B or C range, making Brookfield's rating a meaningful differentiator for prospective residents. The city's low 2.2% unemployment rate and median household income of nearly $85,000 help sustain the conditions — stable housing, community investment, and active civic participation — that keep crime grades elevated. For context, a C grade would indicate crime rates near the national average, while Brookfield's A- reflects rates meaningfully below that benchmark.

Is Brookfield a good place to buy a home from a safety standpoint?

From a crime-data perspective, Brookfield presents a compelling case. The city's A- crime grade, combined with a median home value of $265,644 and a median household income of $84,891, suggests a community where property values are supported in part by safety and quality of life. The 2.2% unemployment rate indicates economic resilience, and the 7.2% poverty rate is low enough that concentrated-disadvantage effects on crime remain minimal. Median rent of $1,058 also points to a stable rental market, meaning the neighborhood fabric — a key predictor of long-term safety — is unlikely to shift dramatically. Buyers focused on safety metrics will find Brookfield's data profile consistently positive across the indicators that matter most.

What steps can Brookfield residents take to further reduce crime risk?

Even in a community with an A- crime grade, proactive habits make a measurable difference. Because property crime represents the largest share of incidents in Brookfield, the highest-impact steps target those offenses specifically: securing vehicles overnight in garages or well-lit driveways, using deadbolt locks and door reinforcement hardware, and installing motion-activated lighting around entry points. Joining or forming a neighborhood watch group in your block — particularly in higher-density corridors near Prairie Avenue — creates the social surveillance that deters opportunistic theft. Reporting suspicious activity promptly to the Brookfield Police Department at brookfieldil.gov ensures that emerging patterns are identified before they escalate. Collectively, these habits help protect Brookfield's strong A- rating for future years.