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C

Is Appleton, Wisconsin Safe?

Population 75,452 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Appleton, Wisconsin sits below average for US cities. The C grade comes from a 221.7 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,359 per 100K.

Appleton Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricAppletonWisconsin AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate315.1334.3363.8
Property Crime Rate1902.12036.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate209.0--268.2
Theft Rate1359.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate191.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

221.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

315/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1902/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Appleton

Violent crime in Appleton is close to the national average. The rate of 315.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1902.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,359 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Appleton Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault209
078% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery37
058% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary203
075% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,359
097% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft191
060% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Appleton Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Appleton
315.1
State
334.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Appleton
1902.1
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Appleton Safety

Is Appleton safe?
Not especially. Appleton earns a C with a crime rate of 221.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Appleton?
221.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 315.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1902.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Appleton safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Appleton's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,359 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Appleton?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Appleton generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Appleton police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Appleton?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Appleton's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Appleton compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Below average for the state. Appleton ranks behind about 67% of Wisconsin cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Appleton to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Appleton?
Bad. A C grade and 221.7 per-thousand rate put Appleton below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 315 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Appleton?
315.1 per 100,000, which is 13% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (209), robbery (37), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

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View all Wisconsin 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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