Is Schaumburg Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Schaumburg, Illinois is a suburban area of Chicagoland and one of the most popular shopping destinations in the whole region.

Woodland Mall brings people here, but there is much else to see if you look beyond the sales and stores.

The numbers make it look like a small town with less than 80,000 people, but this is a blossoming suburban area that could hold its own if you placed it by itself in the middle of the state.

Schaumburg clearly calls itself a village – not a city or town.

The village was well planned from the start, with ample space for homes, businesses, attractions, and retail.

This is a place where fireworks can be seen on weekends during baseball season and you can watch a medieval fight while eating dinner without utensils.

You can easily be distracted by the national brands available here for shopping and dining, but it’s worth hunting out the local businesses.

The hotels here are grouped into the northeast and southeast corners of the city, with easy access to interstates and the rest of the Chicagoland area.

Warnings & Dangers in Schaumburg

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk here. Crime rates are historically low here and it's an upper-middle-class area.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There are a lot of ways to get around Schaumburg and the greater Chicago area. The PACE bus system goes throughout the city and the Metra rail line passes through to downtown or Elgin. Take advantage of the free city trolley to get around to the major spots, like Woodfield Mall, IKEA, the Hyatt, and more. You can rent a car here as well but be prepared for a lot of traffic. All options come with low risk.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The theft rate here is one crime statistic that goes above the national average, but just slightly. There's a low risk of being pickpocketed or getting a purse snatched if you are practicing good personal safety. Avoid leaving a purse on the back of a chair at a restaurant and, if you go shopping, take all the bags back to your hotel so a thief doesn't see you loading up the trunk with goodies.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

You're going to get winter weather here in the form of snow and ice. Some storms can be major and limit travel. Warm boots are necessary for winter. Spring brings a tornado risk and you'll get a few severe thunderstorms. There's low risk on a given day, but heed all watches and warnings during your visit so you can prepare.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a low risk you'll be mugged in this part of Chicago. With just 24 robberies in 2020, this punctuates that Schaumburg isn't one of those dangerous Chicago areas you've probably read about.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Any city in the Chicago area is going to be medium risk and Homeland Security has already thwarted a few near attacks on the city. You should rest easy knowing there are a lot of people working to keep terrorists away from the city, but part of the safety measures comes from residents and tourists being vigilant and following the motto "See Something, Say Something."

SCAMS RISK: LOW

One of the great things about a village as safe as Schaumburg is if there is a potential crime, the police have a warning about it on their website. The Scams Bulletin for Scahmburg doesn't have a single scam that doesn't include the word "residents" in it, showing any scam is more likely to target a local. However, any get-rich-quick scheme, request to buy gift cards in exchange for a prize, or a request to wire money is a red flag. The risk is low, but scammers are always coming up with new and creative ways to manipulate people.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women have a low risk here. There are a lot of safe options for a girl's getaway weekend, a bachelorette party, or just a relaxing escape. Of course, you need to protect your belongings and avoid leaving shopping bags lying around - even for a few minutes.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Schaumburg has one of the best water ratings in the entire nation. More than $30 million has been invested since 1980 to keep the water clean and safe. There's low risk when using it.

Safest Places to Visit in Schaumburg

Woodfield Mall is the largest of its kind in the entire state.

It has 300 stores, give or take depending on the closures and re-openings.

There are plenty of restaurants there and a comedy club too!

Many people go to Schaumburg just for the mall.

Legoland Discovery Center isn’t quite a Legoland, but it’s a massive store with a couple of levels of Lego fun.

It’s right across the street from the mall.

Wintrust Field is where the Boomers play.

It’s a minor league baseball club and the ballfield is like a mini-Wrigley Field with more than 7,000 seats.

You can see fireworks there on weekends and run the bases too.

Sculpture Park is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy some art while you’re at it.

There are sculptures throughout the park and you can walk or bike through.

Busse Woods is a large park area on the east side of Schaumburg and is a great outdoor getaway without leaving the Chicago area.

Don’t miss the elk pasture for wildlife sightings.

Volkening Heritage Farm is a 17th-century German village sitting right in the middle of suburban Chicago.

Here you can wander the paths and view the livestock or volunteer to help with chores at the farm.

The workers there are dressed in time period costumes, giving it an authentic feel.

The Medieval Times is a great place for tourists.

This is a dinner and show in 11th-century fashion.

You can cheer on your favorite side of the joust and sword fighters.

Prepared to get dirty because you won’t find utensils here.

This is an “eat with your hands” restaurant, like in real Medieval times.

Pilot Pete’s is a restaurant you’ll hear about often when visiting Shamburg, so you might as well put that on your flight plan for the trip.

It’s an aviation-themed restaurant with incredible food at affordable prices.

It’s located right along the runway of a private airport, so you can see private jets landing while you eat through the appetizer menu.

Normally, this isn’t the kind of place I’d recommend, but you’re going to hear about it when you visit, so I’ll get ahead of the curve (and the line) on this.

Crumble Cookies is a gourmet cookie shop with each cookie about the size of your hand.

Not your palm, THE WHOLE HAND.

The lines here can get long, so prepare to wait.

You can order pickup or delivery, but those time slots fill up quickly.

This is a chain store, but it’s newer to Schaumburg and very popular right now.

It’s also open until midnight if you have a late-night sweet tooth craving.

Places to Avoid in Schaumburg

The village of Schaumburg has some odd-shaped city limits.

Look at a map before you go so you can see, especially on the north side, where the city limits begin and end.

Even driving down Golf Road can take you in and out of the city limits just within several miles.

The highest crime rates are in the northeast part of the village.

That’s also one of the busier parts, so it makes sense there would be more crime.

The southwest side of the city is the safest when it comes to incidents of crimes reported.

It’s easy to get distracted here when there is so much to see.

You should still practice parking safety techniques, even when arriving at a busy mall.

I’m particularly fond of malls that offer valet parking if the parking is underground or in a monitored garage.

That helps me be able to ask an attendant to add bags to my car.

If you don’t have that option or don’t want to spend the money, be sure to park in busy areas, ideally within view of a surveillance camera.

Avoid pronouncing the “S” in Illinois.

It drives people crazy there and it’s a sure sign you are a tourist.

It’s pronounced “Ill-in-oye”, not “Ill-in-noise.”

Safety Tips for Traveling to Schaumburg

So... How Safe Is Schaumburg Really?

This is a safe, suburban area with crime rates that are a fraction of the state and national averages.

For example, on a scale used to determine crime risks, the state of Illinois is at 4.18 per 1,000 residents for violent crime.

In Schaumburg, it’s .99.

There’s a one in 1009 risk of being a victim, which is among the lower risks I’ve researched in dozens of Illinois cities.

The theft rate is one in 66, which is slightly higher than the national average.

While police departments can submit information about what types of thefts those are, Schaumburg chose not to share that information with the FBI in its Uniform Crime Report.

Based on my research as an investigative crime reporter, generally, 30% of thefts in a city are shoplifting, and another 30% are thefts from vehicles.

The city has had just six homicides in the past decade and zero homicides in 2020.

You can really feel safe visiting here, with the understanding that it isn’t crime-free.

You also need to respect that once you get outside the city boundaries, the crime statistics can drastically change and that’s why we’ve gone into great detail about most of the cities in the greater Chicago area.

How Does Schaumburg Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You will only need to show the Visa when you reach Customs if you are about to enter the United States. Remember, a Visa isn't a guarantee to get into the country. If there are any red flags, you can be denied entry.

Currency

You will only be able to use the U.S. Dollar here and all major credit cards are widely accepted. There aren't a lot of cash-only places in the area, so limit the amount of cash you bring. If you do need to use an ATM, it's ideal to go into a bank and do so instead of one in a public place.

Weather

You will get all four seasons here, which is one of the things people love about the Chicago area. That does mean you have to dress in warm layers in winter and there can be particularly bitter cold spells. Summers are going to be muggy and hot. Thunderstorms are possible anytime from spring through fall, so a rain jacket isn't a bad idea if you have room. There's a lot to see in Chicago, so bring good walking shoes.

Airports

O'Hare International Airport is the closest and is less than 30 minutes away. You can also fly in and out of Midway International Airport, which is 33 miles away, and that's going to take about an hour.

Travel Insurance

With so many weather variables and delays possible in major airports like the ones in Chicago, travel insurance is a great idea for a trip to Schaumburg, Illinois.

Schaumburg Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Illinois - Safety by City