The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Wisconsin

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2026

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 69 shot of being the victim of a murder, rape, robbery, or assault over 2024. That includes the highest murder rate statewide.

And while property crime isn’t as bad in Milwaukee, the city still had the second 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.

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.

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 third most dangerous place in Wisconsin for 2026. The city, with a population of 9,781, has witnessed a surge in violent crimes, including 5 cases of rape and 26 aggravated assaults.

With a violent crime rate of 316/100k, Sparta holds the 13th highest position in the state. Its property crime rate stands at 3,128/100k. These alarming figures underline the potential dangers of residing in this otherwise tranquil city.

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

Fortunately, Glendale went up 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 23 of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2024.

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

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 659 larceny cases recorded in 2024. It’s also a good idea to double-check all your locks if you’re in Beloit, what with the 64 stolen cars and 79 burglaries.

And it’s not just property crime that makes Beloit so dangerous — the city also had the fifth highest murder rate in Wisconsin, and residents had a 1 in 255 shot of being violently attacked over the year.

The sixth 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 eighth 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 12,636 people.

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 18,602 and recorded a total of 99 violent and 352 property crimes. The city’s crime rate stands at 2,424/100k, making it one of the highest in the state.

Despite having no recorded murders, the city’s violent crime per capita stands at 532/100k, giving it the second highest rank statewide. WisconsinRapids’ high crime rate makes it a dangerous place to live.

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

Grand Chute averaged just over one violent crime per week in 2024, which isn’t too bad for a city of 24,397. There were also about two property crimes committed each day, which is enough to give the town the 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.

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