Markham, IL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Markham, IL

What is Markham's overall crime grade?

Markham, IL earns an overall crime grade of C for 2026. This mid-range grade reflects a city navigating real public safety challenges while maintaining active community policing efforts. A C grade means crime rates are above the national median but not at the most severe end of the spectrum — residents can and do live safely here, particularly with awareness of local patterns and higher-activity areas.

How do Markham's economic indicators relate to its crime rate?

Markham's socioeconomic profile provides important context for its C crime grade. The city's unemployment rate stands at 14.1% — roughly two to three times the national average — and the poverty rate is 20.9%, meaning more than one in five residents lives below the poverty line. The median household income of $42,050 is significantly below the Illinois state median. Research consistently links elevated unemployment and poverty to higher rates of property crime in particular. These figures don't excuse crime, but they do help explain why Markham's grade sits at a C rather than an A or B, and they underscore where community investment can make the biggest difference.

What types of crime are most common in Markham?

Based on available crime data for Markham, property crimes — including theft, motor vehicle theft, and residential burglary — account for the largest share of reported incidents, which is consistent with the city's economic pressures. Violent crimes such as assault and robbery represent a smaller but meaningful portion of the overall crime picture. The city's population density of 885 residents per square mile is relatively modest, which means crime is not uniformly distributed; certain corridors and blocks see disproportionately higher incident counts than quieter residential pockets. Using the interactive crime map to filter by incident type can help you understand exactly which categories are most active near any given address.

Is Markham safe compared to other Illinois cities?

With an overall grade of C, Markham falls in the middle tier of Illinois municipalities when it comes to safety. Cities scoring A or B typically have lower poverty rates, stronger median incomes, and lower unemployment — conditions that correlate with reduced crime. Markham's median home value of $92,594 and median rent of $1,362 reflect an affordable but economically stressed housing market. For comparison, Illinois cities with similar population sizes (around 12,000–15,000 residents) that score higher tend to have unemployment rates below 6% and poverty rates under 12%. Markham's 14.1% unemployment and 20.9% poverty rate place it in a more challenged category, making the C grade an honest reflection of current conditions.

What are the safest areas in Markham?

While Markham's overall grade is a C, safety is not uniform across the city. Residential areas with active neighborhood associations, consistent street lighting, and proximity to parks and community services tend to report fewer incidents. Historically, blocks closer to well-maintained single-family home corridors experience lower property crime rates than stretches near major commercial thoroughfares. The crime map's heat-map layer is the most reliable tool for identifying lower-activity zones in real time — look for areas shaded in cooler colors, which indicate fewer reported incidents per capita. Speaking with longtime residents and attending community meetings hosted by the Markham Police Department can also provide ground-level insight that raw data alone cannot capture.

What is the crime rate in Markham per capita?

Markham's C crime grade is derived from per-capita incident rates benchmarked against national and state averages. With a population of approximately 12,401 and a density of 885 people per square mile, even a moderate absolute number of incidents translates into a notable per-capita rate. Property crime per capita is the primary driver of the C grade. For precise, up-to-date per-capita figures, the interactive crime map on this page aggregates reported incidents and normalizes them by population, giving you the most current snapshot available rather than relying on data that may be one to two years old.

Is Markham a good place to live given its crime grade?

A C crime grade means Markham requires informed decision-making rather than outright avoidance. The city's median home value of $92,594 makes homeownership accessible at a price point that is increasingly rare in the Chicago metro area, and the median rent of $1,362 reflects a competitive but not prohibitive rental market. For buyers and renters who do their homework — reviewing the crime map, visiting neighborhoods at different times of day, and connecting with community organizations — Markham can offer genuine value. The 20.9% poverty rate and 14.1% unemployment rate are real challenges the city is working to address, and local initiatives focused on economic development and community policing are ongoing. A C grade is a starting point for conversation, not a final verdict.