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C-

Is Waterbury, Connecticut Safe?

Population 115,771 · Safer than 27% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Waterbury earns a C- safety grade with 235 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs below the national average, putting the city behind 73% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,789 per 100K.

Waterbury Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWaterburyConnecticut AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate251.9331.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2098.42084.81,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate171.0--268.2
Theft Rate1789.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate372.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

235 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

252/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2098/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Waterbury

Violent crime in Waterbury is below the national average. The rate of 251.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2098.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,789 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Waterbury Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault171
064% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery52
082% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary240
089% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,789
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft372
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Waterbury Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waterbury
251.9
State
331.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waterbury
2098.4
State
2084.8
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterbury Safety

Is Waterbury safe?
Not especially. Waterbury earns a C- with a crime rate of 235 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Waterbury?
235 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 251.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2098.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Waterbury safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Waterbury's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,789 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Waterbury?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Waterbury generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Waterbury police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Waterbury?
Crime rates have held steady in Waterbury, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C- grade.
How does Waterbury compare to other cities in Connecticut?
Below average for the state. Waterbury ranks behind about 73% of Connecticut cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Waterbury to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Waterbury?
Bad. A C- grade and 235 per-thousand rate put Waterbury below 73% of US cities. Violent crime at 252 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Waterbury?
251.9 per 100,000, which is 31% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (171), robbery (52), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Connecticut

Similar-sized communities in Connecticut. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Hartford121,981 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Norwalk94,508 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in New Haven138,774 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Stamford139,535 pop · Grade D
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See crime rates in Danbury89,033 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Bridgeport152,273 pop · Grade C-
View all Connecticut city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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