Gurnee, IL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Gurnee, IL

Is Gurnee, IL safe to live in?

Gurnee earns an overall crime grade of C+, which places it in a moderate safety tier relative to other Illinois suburbs. That said, context matters: the city's poverty rate of just 4.8% and median household income of $100,892 are both strong indicators of community stability, and research consistently links lower poverty to lower violent crime rates. Property crimes — particularly theft in high-traffic retail corridors near Gurnee Mills — account for the largest share of reported incidents, while violent crime remains comparatively rare. Families considering a move here can take additional comfort in the city's low population density of 872 residents per square mile, which limits the kind of concentrated crime hotspots seen in denser urban environments.

What is the crime rate in Gurnee, and how does it compare to similar suburbs?

Gurnee's overall crime grade of C+ reflects a mixed picture: the city outperforms many Illinois municipalities on violent crime but sees a drag on its score from property crime, which is common in suburbs anchored by large retail destinations. With a population of 30,519 and an unemployment rate of 5.4% — roughly in line with national averages — the economic conditions that typically drive opportunistic crime are not especially elevated here. Neighborhoods closer to the Interstate 94 commercial corridor tend to show higher incident concentrations on the crime map, while quieter residential pockets farther from the retail zone log fewer reports. Overall, Gurnee's C+ grade means it is safer than roughly half of U.S. cities its size, but not among the top-tier suburban communities in the Chicago metro area.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Gurnee?

Gurnee's residential neighborhoods — including Gurnee Highlands and areas surrounding the Gurnee Park District — consistently appear as lower-activity zones on the crime map. These communities benefit from the city's broader demographic profile: a median home value of $270,638 and a poverty rate under 5% support neighborhood stability and active community watch participation. By contrast, the commercial zones along Grand Avenue and near Six Flags Great America see a higher share of property crime incidents, largely driven by the volume of visitors rather than resident behavior. When reviewing the interactive crime map, filtering by incident type and time of day will quickly reveal that most residential streets in Gurnee log very few incidents per month.

Is Gurnee a good place to buy a home or raise a family?

From a data standpoint, Gurnee presents a compelling case for families. The median home value of $270,638 is affordable relative to the city's median household income of $100,892, producing a price-to-income ratio well below the national average — meaning residents are less financially stressed, a factor that correlates with community safety. The poverty rate of 4.8% is notably low, and the median rent of $1,252 keeps the rental market accessible without attracting the economic instability sometimes associated with very low-cost housing markets. The overall C+ crime grade is the one asterisk: it signals that property crime, especially vehicle break-ins and retail theft in high-traffic areas, is worth monitoring. Prospective buyers should use the Gurnee crime map to compare specific streets before committing, paying attention to whether incidents cluster near commercial corridors or appear in purely residential zones.

When and where does most crime occur in Gurnee?

Based on patterns visible in Gurnee's crime map data, property crime incidents are most concentrated in and around the city's major retail and entertainment zones — particularly the Gurnee Mills shopping corridor and parking areas near Six Flags Great America. These locations generate high foot traffic and vehicle volumes, creating opportunity for theft and vehicle burglaries. Timing matters too: incidents in commercial areas spike during peak shopping and entertainment hours, while late-night hours in isolated parking lots carry elevated risk. Residential areas, including neighborhoods like Gurnee Highlands, see far fewer incidents and tend to report lower-severity offenses when they do occur. The city's overall C+ safety grade is heavily influenced by these commercial-zone concentrations rather than widespread neighborhood-level crime, which is an important distinction for residents evaluating day-to-day safety.