SafeRoute

Safety index · Chicago · data through July 2026

Is Jefferson Park safe?

Jefferson Park sits at the safer end of Chicago by reported crime. Its SafeRoute safety index is 76 out of 100 — 24 points above the citywide median of 52, ranking 11th of 77 Chicago community areas — based on 243 incidents reported to the Chicago Police Department within 1 km of the neighborhood center (data through July 2026).

76/100
Low risk
SafeRoute safety index for the area within 1 km of the center of Jefferson Park — higher is safer. 11th of 77 Chicago community areas.

The largest reported category here is violent crime (27% of reports) — worth taking seriously when walking at night; the full mix is broken down below.

Incidents spread across the day here — roughly 28% of severity-weighted reports come in the evening (6 p.m.–midnight) and 22% overnight.

Where incidents cluster

Kennedy ExpresswayNorth Elston Avenue neighborhood center 1 dot = 1 report · darker = more severe 500 m N ↑
243 incidents reported within 1 km of the Jefferson Park center · Chicago PD data through July 2026 · basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What's reported here

Violent crime
65 · 27%
Other theft
66 · 27%
Criminal damage & arson
26 · 11%
Burglary
18 · 7%
Other
35 · 14%
Public order
10 · 4%

When it happens

6a–6p6p–12a12a–6aMON–FRI6a–6p6p–12a12a–6aSAT–SUN

Severity-weighted share of reported incidents by time of day, from police incident timestamps.

Walking in Jefferson Park at night?

SafeRoute scores every walking route against the same live crime data on this page — and shows how much of each route runs on lit streets. Pick the safer way, share your walk, and check in when you arrive. Free, no account.

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Nearby areas

Common questions

Is Jefferson Park safe at night?

Low risk overall (safety index 76/100). About 49% of severity-weighted incidents in Jefferson Park are reported between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Reported crime is low for Chicago, but stick to lit, busier streets late.

What is the most common crime in Jefferson Park?

Violent crime — 65 of 243 incidents (27%) reported within 1 km of the neighborhood center through July 2026.

How is the Jefferson Park safety index calculated?

SafeRoute weights each incident reported to the Chicago Police Department by severity (violence weighs more than shoplifting), sums the last available period within 1 km of the neighborhood center, and normalizes against citywide crime rates onto a 0–100 scale — higher is safer. It describes reported crime only; it is not a guarantee of safety.