I've Been to Rio and felt quite safe besides concern for pick pockets. Probably not a great comparison as rio tourist areas are safe and beaches safe.

Chicago is safe but reality crime increases when economy/jobs are in the sewer. The best solution educate the youth and give them availability to jobs (even low skill employment) gives them a purpose. Unfortunately, Chicago is so divided between wealth and poverty it is difficult to move tax revenue to the under serve part of their population resulting in that segment leaking into popular areas.

I am much more afraid in Chicago vs NYC due to the higher number of gangs.

Since Jan 2007, there have been 11 homicides in Lakeview, 6 in Lincoln Park, and 3 in the Near North Side east of LaSalle (almost all of the other homicides in this neighborhood were in the old Cabrini Green projects). That's less than 2 homicides a year in Lakeview (pop. 95000), 1 in LP (pop. 64000), etc. Those murder rates are comparable with any major city in Western Europe. Pickpocketing and other minor street crime is, surely, far lower than London, Paris, Rome or Madrid (this is true for US cities in general).

Chicago does have a major crime problem. It has a major segregation problem. Much of this is the result of deliberate and racist policies in the past and today. That said, these problems occur in areas that are completely off the tourist map. Don't worry about it.

And to add further context to the Lakeview homicides:
5/9/2012: Shooting (possibly gang related) at 3:40 am
3/5/2012: Stabbing in a private home, domestic violence
1/11/2012: Stabbing in a private home, domestic violence
10/8/2011: Nighttime drive-by shooting (no mention of whether it was gang related)
2/7/2011: Infant suffocated by mother
11/25/2010: Shooting in apartment, no sign of forced entry & no sign of theft
8/19/2007: Stabbing in apartment, victim knew perpetrator
3/10/2007: Four people killed in arson fire when homeless man set fire to their
apartment building

So:
2012: One possibly random murder, two where victims knew perpetrators
2011: One possibly random murder, one where victim knew perpetrator
2010: One murder, evidence suggests victim may have known perpetrator
2009: No murders
2008: No murders
2007: Deadliest year in the last 5.5 years. 4 murders by arson where victims didn't know perpetrator, one murder where victim knew perpetrator.

(Edited to add: I picked Lakeview because I live in the neighborhood. I feel very safe but exercise common sense. As a woman, I do not walk down side streets after dark if I'm alone, but I'd exercise that same caution in any city.)

Mrs Sweet Willie & I just spent two days in Chicago, at all times of day & until 10pm walked all over the Mich Ave (900N south to the Art Institute (200 S Mich Ave), Millennium Park area. We stayed at the Radisson Blu & had functions at Palmer House Hilton.

Not once did we see any gangs of youth, nor anyone who looked/acted shady.

Only a handful (less than 5) of panhandlers during a two day period.

Last night we had dinner @ 9pm at a Mich Ave restaurant ~225 N Mich Ave, there were still numerous families walking about at that time.

Just thought I'd add my personal data point.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/violenc...all-crime.html

I'll be there in January. Should I be worried?

You should be worried that your keister might freeze. Anything else is a lot less likely.

Nah - keisters are normally covered. Watch out that you're ears don't get frostbit - I can tell you from experience that they hurt for days.