The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin


The most dangerous places in Wisconsin are Milwaukee and Sparta for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Wisconsin research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 147 Wisconsin cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Wisconsin is 1,508 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Wisconsin is 3,507 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Wisconsin is Geneva Town.

  • Wisconsin is the 38th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


It used to be where the only thing dangerous in Wisconsin was an angry Cheesehead after a Green Bay Packers loss. Unfortunately, there are now several dangerous places in Wisconsin.

Most of Wisconsin’s crime centers around the state’s largest places. While crime rates are high in cities like Milwaukee and Madison, the most dangerous place in Wisconsin doesn’t even break 10,000 residents.

To find the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin, we analyzed 147 cities with over 5,000 residents. Specifically, we looked at the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime per capita.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin For 2024

  1. Milwaukee
  2. Sparta
  3. Grand Chute
  4. Town of Madison
  5. Beloit
  6. La Crosse
  7. Glendale
  8. Wisconsin Rapids
  9. Brown Deer
  10. West Allis

What city is the number one most dangerous place to live in Wisconsin for 2024? According to the FBI data we crunched, Milwaukee is America’s Dairyland’s most dangerous place to live.

If you want to know where the rest of Wisconsin’s most dangerous places are, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom for crime rates in every Wisconsin city.

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024

Milwaukee, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Dori | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 561,743
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,508 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,507 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 214
More on Milwaukee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Known for great beer and being a Mecca for motorcyclists, Milwaukee likes to have fun.

Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s biggest city is also the most violent as well. In Milwaukee, folks had a 1 in 66 shot of being the victim of a murder, rape, robbery, or assault over 2022. That includes the highest murder rate statewide.

And while property crime isn’t as bad in Milwaukee, the city still had the third highest burglary rate in Wisconsin, averaging about ten a day.

Overall, Milwaukeeans can still enjoy a high quality of life if they stick to Brew City’s best neighborhoods.

Sparta, WI

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 9,901
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 575 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,181 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Sparta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Located in Wisconsin’s Monroe County, Sparta has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Despite its setting along the La Crosse River, Sparta has been ranked as the second most dangerous place in Wisconsin for 2024. The city, with a population of 9,901, has witnessed a surge in violent crimes, including 21 cases of rape and 35 aggravated assaults.

With a violent crime rate of 575/100k, Sparta holds the third highest position in the state. Its property crime rate stands at 3,181/100k. These alarming figures underline the potential dangers of residing in this otherwise tranquil city.

3. Grand Chute

Grand Chute, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Royalbroil | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 23,871
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 301 (19th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,272 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Grand Chute:

Situated just north of the hip, safe city of Appleton, Grand Chute ranks as the third most dangerous place to call home in Wisconsin.

Grand Chute averaged just over one violent crime per week in 2022, which isn’t too bad for a city of 23,871. There were also about two property crimes committed each day, which is enough to give the town the third highest property crime rate statewide.

At least there’s a butterfly garden and a nature preserve within a ten-minute drive from Grand Chute, if you need to calm your nerves about the high crime rate.

4. Town of Madison

Town Of Madison, WI

Source: Flickr User Richard Hurd | CC BY 2.0

Population: 6,713
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 387 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,428 (13th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Town Of Madison:

The Town of Madison, located in Monroe County, Wisconsin, has unfortunately earned the reputation as one of the most dangerous places to live in the state.

When analyzing the crime statistics, it becomes evident that safety is a significant concern for the residents of the Town of Madison. Violent crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, have been reported, with a total of 26 incidents recorded. Property crimes such as burglary have also been prevalent, with 163 cases reported.

Beloit, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Jason Dean | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 36,784
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 611 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,101 (22nd most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Beloit: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

If you’re looking to stay safe in Wisconsin, you might want to avoid its fifth most dangerous city, Beloit. Located about an hour south of Madison, Beloit is one of the only places on this list to rank in the top ten statewide for both violent and property crime.

You’ll want to watch your wallet when you’re out at Beloit’s farmer’s market, because there were 568 larceny cases recorded in 2022. It’s also a good idea to double-check all your locks if you’re in Beloit, what with the 107 stolen cars and 98 burglaries.

And it’s not just property crime that makes Beloit so dangerous — the city also had the 18th highest murder rate in Wisconsin, and residents had a 1 in 163 shot of being violently attacked over the year.

La Crosse, WI

Source: Wikipedia User 14aarram | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 51,727
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 305 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,095 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on La Crosse: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

La Crosse sits along the Mississippi River, across the water from Minnesota. This placement has long made the town an important trade area.

Being one of the main cities in its region, La Crosse suffers some of the crime you’d expect from a high population density. That includes high rates of larceny and car theft.

However, life in La Crosse does have its benefits as well. It has plenty of parks near the river, plus a host of museums and universities.

Glendale, WI

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 13,004
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 269 (25th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,929 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Glendale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Chock full of beer fests and beer gardens, Glendale is like a mini version of Milwaukee to its south.

Fortunately, Glendale went down 2 spots on this list from last year, so things are improving. On the bad side, property crime still ranks as the second highest worst in the state, with residents facing a 1 in 20 of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2022.

Glendale’s overall crime rate also ranks as the second highest in Wisconsin — about three times higher than the national average.

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Royalbroil | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 18,693
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 427 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,091 (23rd most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Wisconsin Rapids: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Wisconsin Rapids, situated in Wood County and known for its papermaking history, ranks as the eighth most dangerous place to live in Wisconsin. The city has a population of 18,693 and recorded a total of 80 violent and 391 property crimes. The city’s crime rate stands at 2,519/100k, making it one of the highest in the state.

Despite having no recorded murders, the city’s violent crime per capita stands at 427/100k, giving it the sixth highest rank statewide. WisconsinRapids’ high crime rate makes it a dangerous place to live.

Brown Deer, WI

Source: Wikipedia User FOX6 Milwaukee | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 12,817
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 257 (30th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,094 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Brown Deer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

The ninth most dangerous place in America’s Dairyland turns out to be Brown Deer, a village just 20 minutes north of Milwaukee. As you can guess by Brown Deer’s high crime rate, the village was far from making the cut for Milwaukee’s best suburbs.

Padlocking your picnic basket before a trip to one of Brown Deer’s parks might be a good idea, considering the village had the highest property crime rate in Wisconsin.

Oh, and a car got stolen here every other week, on average — quite common for a place with only 12,817 people.

West Allis, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Panoramio upload bot | CC BY 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 58,681
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 286 (22nd most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,607 (Tenth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on West Allis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

West Allis didn’t wind up on our list of Milwaukee’s worst suburbs for no reason — its high rates of both violent crime and property crime helped land it there.

The city experienced 127 burglaries over 2022, and 281 car thefts. Overall, though, violent crime is the more significant issue.

About two people were assaulted, and one person was robbed each week in West Allis, on average. All the more reason not to stay out late by yourself at Greenfield Park.

Crime By City In Wisconsin

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Milwaukee 561,743 5,015 1,508 3,507 214
2 Sparta 9,901 3,757 575 3,181 1
3 Grand Chute 23,871 4,574 301 4,272 0
4 Town of Madison 6,713 2,815 387 2,428 0
5 Beloit 36,784 2,713 611 2,101 3
6 La Crosse 51,727 3,400 305 3,095 3
7 Glendale 13,004 5,198 269 4,929 0
8 Wisconsin Rapids 18,693 2,519 427 2,091 0
9 Brown Deer 12,817 5,352 257 5,094 2
10 West Allis 58,681 2,893 286 2,607 1
11 Madison 269,546 2,696 300 2,396 6
12 Marinette 11,015 2,315 399 1,915 1
13 Green Bay 106,916 2,151 426 1,724 6
14 Rice Lake 8,941 2,113 492 1,621 0
15 Platteville 11,771 2,387 263 2,123 1
16 Superior 26,429 2,595 211 2,383 0
17 Wauwatosa 47,149 2,746 199 2,547 0
18 Oshkosh 66,521 1,960 336 1,623 1
19 Racine 76,679 1,939 434 1,504 5
20 West Bend 31,773 2,344 214 2,130 0
21 Merrill 9,341 2,976 171 2,804 1
22 Fond du Lac 44,613 1,929 289 1,640 4
23 Ashland 7,975 3,473 163 3,310 0
24 Greenfield 36,924 2,754 165 2,589 1
25 Hudson 15,571 2,491 173 2,318 1
26 Monona 8,920 3,475 145 3,329 0
27 Tomah 9,418 2,240 201 2,038 0
28 Sun Prairie 36,153 1,808 273 1,535 0
29 Sheboygan 49,917 1,726 332 1,394 0
30 Waupaca 6,436 2,019 201 1,817 0
31 Jefferson 7,709 1,906 220 1,686 0
32 Marshfield 18,403 2,217 179 2,037 0
33 Antigo 7,947 1,887 213 1,673 0
34 Baraboo 12,312 1,819 251 1,567 0
35 Appleton 74,411 1,767 268 1,498 1
36 Wausau 39,349 1,669 388 1,280 0
37 Ashwaubenon 16,833 2,281 148 2,132 0
38 Fitchburg 31,796 1,632 308 1,324 0
39 Janesville 66,242 2,130 169 1,960 1
40 Kenosha 98,841 1,488 397 1,090 7
41 Eau Claire 69,569 2,364 137 2,226 1
42 Portage 10,251 2,126 156 1,970 0
43 Berlin 5,665 1,429 370 1,059 0
44 Watertown 22,885 1,594 244 1,350 0
45 Manitowoc 34,688 1,703 196 1,507 0
46 Oak Creek 35,995 2,191 125 2,066 0
47 Lake Geneva 8,631 1,842 139 1,703 1
48 Whitewater 14,327 1,514 230 1,284 0
49 Neenah 27,706 1,501 230 1,270 0
50 Prairie du Chien 5,461 1,593 183 1,409 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin for 2024?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Wisconsin. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Wisconsin, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Wisconsin.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Wisconsin cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 147 cities in Wisconsin.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 147 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Wisconsin — Milwaukee. Any ties went to the smaller city.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Wisconsin and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wisconsin FAQs

No, Wisconsin is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #12 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Wisconsin ranks 3most dangerous in the United States — 12.56% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Badger State ranks 39th most dangerous in the United States — 23.98% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

Yes, Milwaukee is a dangerous city. Milwaukee ranks as the #42 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Milwaukee might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, North Granville is the safest in Milwaukee, while Franklin Heights is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Milwaukee ranks 11th highest in America — 172.53% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 73rd highest in the United States — 28.53% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Wisconsin

Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Wisconsin

So what is the most dangerous city in Wisconsin? After analyzing 147 cities in Wisconsin, Milwaukee takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Wisconsin based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Milwaukee ranks as the most dangerous city in Wisconsin for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Wisconsin are .

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Milwaukee and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

What city is the number one most dangerous place to live in Wisconsin for 2024? According to the FBI data we crunched, Milwaukee is America’s Dairyland’s most dangerous place to live.

If you want to know where the rest of Wisconsin’s most dangerous places are, take a look at the list below. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom for crime rates in every Wisconsin city.

Learn more about the safest places in Wisconsin.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Wisconsin:

  1. Oconomowoc (Pop. 18,531)
  2. Mukwonago Town (Pop. 7,792)
  3. Delavan Town (Pop. 5,347)
  4. Cottage Grove (Pop. 7,328)
  5. Waterford Town (Pop. 6,455)
  6. Grand Rapids (Pop. 7,393)
  7. Evansville (Pop. 5,489)
  8. Oconomowoc Town (Pop. 8,853)
  9. Hobart-Lawrence (Pop. 16,948)
  10. Geneva Town (Pop. 5,484)

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

References

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.