Decatur, IL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Decatur, IL

Is Decatur, IL safe to live in?

By the numbers, Decatur holds up reasonably well. Of the 71 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 87% earn a safe rating of A or B, and not a single neighborhood received an F grade. The city-wide safety rating lands at a B (Safe), while the overall crime grade for the city as a whole is a C+ — a distinction worth understanding. The city-wide grade factors in population density, socioeconomic conditions like a 9.3% unemployment rate and 19.4% poverty rate, and regional crime trends, while the neighborhood safety rating reflects how individual areas compare to each other. Areas like Cresthaven, Bayshore, and Greenlake — all rated A+ — are genuinely low-crime communities. The higher-crime outliers, including Phoenix Park (D) and the Central Business District (D+), pull the overall city grade down but represent only about 6% of analyzed neighborhoods.

What percentage of Decatur neighborhoods are considered high-crime?

Only 5.6% of Decatur's 71 analyzed neighborhoods — four in total — received a D or D+ grade. Those areas are Phoenix Park (D), Central Business District (D+), Fans Field (D+), and Concord (D+). Another 7% of neighborhoods, including Mueller Park, sit at a C grade, meaning they have elevated but not severe crime concerns. By contrast, a striking 67.6% of neighborhoods — 48 out of 71 — earned an A grade, and an additional 19.7% (14 neighborhoods) earned a B. That means roughly nine out of ten Decatur neighborhoods fall into the safe-to-very-safe range, which is a meaningful data point for anyone evaluating the city's overall livability.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Decatur, IL?

Ten neighborhoods carry the top A+ safety grade in Decatur, and several stand out for their combination of low crime and higher household incomes. Cresthaven is the largest of the A+ communities with a population of 1,117 and a median household income of nearly $100,000. Bayshore follows with 1,345 residents and a median income of $85,357, making it one of the most populous safe neighborhoods. Greenlake (657 residents, $91,525 median income) and Rock Springs ($91,914 median income) round out the higher-income A+ areas. Smaller but equally well-rated communities include Southside ($97,052 median income), Country Manor ($87,893), Country Club ($87,874), and Devonshire ($78,392). The consistent pattern across these neighborhoods is a median household income well above the city median of $45,404 — a factor that strongly correlates with lower crime rates.

Which Decatur neighborhoods have the highest crime rates?

Four neighborhoods in Decatur received a D or D+ grade, signaling meaningfully elevated crime risk compared to the rest of the city. Phoenix Park is the only area to receive a straight D — the lowest grade recorded in Decatur for 2026. Central Business District, Fans Field, and Concord each earned a D+. It's worth noting that downtown and central business districts in many mid-sized cities tend to have higher reported crime simply due to foot traffic and commercial activity, not necessarily because residents face greater personal risk. Mueller Park, graded C, sits in a middle tier — not among the worst, but worth monitoring. Together, these five neighborhoods account for roughly 7% of all analyzed areas, leaving the vast majority of Decatur with solid safety profiles.

How does Decatur's crime profile compare to its economic indicators?

Decatur's crime grades reflect a city navigating real economic headwinds. With a 9.3% unemployment rate — notably above the national average — and a 19.4% poverty rate, the city faces structural challenges that research consistently links to higher crime in concentrated areas. The median household income of $45,404 and median home value of $85,268 are both below national medians, and the median rent of $688 reflects an affordable but economically constrained housing market. Despite these pressures, 87% of neighborhoods still rate as safe, which suggests that while citywide conditions are challenging, many residential communities have maintained relatively low crime environments. The neighborhoods with the lowest crime — like Cresthaven and Greenlake — tend to have median incomes roughly double the city average, underscoring how economic stability and neighborhood safety track closely together in Decatur's data.

Is Decatur a good place to buy a home from a safety perspective?

For homebuyers, Decatur's neighborhood-level data offers a nuanced picture. With 48 out of 71 neighborhoods graded A and a median home value of just $85,268, the city presents an unusual opportunity: relatively affordable housing in genuinely safe communities. Neighborhoods like Cresthaven, Bayshore, and Country Manor — all A+ rated — offer low crime environments at price points well below what comparable safety grades would cost in larger metro areas. The caveat is the city's overall C+ crime grade, which reflects broader urban conditions including a 9.3% unemployment rate and concentrated poverty in specific areas. Buyers who focus on the A and B-rated neighborhoods — which together represent 87% of analyzed areas — can find solid value. Those considering properties near the Central Business District or Phoenix Park should weigh the D-level crime grades carefully against any price advantages.