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C

Is La Crosse, Wisconsin Safe?

Population 50,784 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

A C grade for La Crosse means there's room for concern. The 221.3 per-thousand crime rate and violent crime close to the national average tell the story. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,655 per 100K.

La Crosse Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLa CrosseWisconsin AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate337.5334.3363.8
Property Crime Rate1875.82036.01,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate232.0--268.2
Theft Rate1655.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate473.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

221.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

338/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1876/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for La Crosse

Violent crime in La Crosse is close to the national average. The rate of 337.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1875.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,655 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

La Crosse Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault232
087% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery45
071% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary233
086% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,655
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft473
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How La Crosse Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

La Crosse
337.5
State
334.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

La Crosse
1875.8
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About La Crosse Safety

Is La Crosse safe?
Not especially. La Crosse earns a C with a crime rate of 221.3 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 La Crosse?
221.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 337.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1875.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is La Crosse safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. La Crosse's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,655 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in La Crosse?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in La Crosse generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the La Crosse police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in La Crosse?
No. Crime in La Crosse has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does La Crosse compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Middle of the pack for Wisconsin. La Crosse isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 42th percentile among Wisconsin cities.
How safe is La Crosse to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in La Crosse?
Bad. A C grade and 221.3 per-thousand rate put La Crosse below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 338 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in La Crosse?
337.5 per 100,000, which is 7% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (232), robbery (45), and murder (3.0) 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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