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D

Is Milwaukee, Wisconsin Safe?

Population 562,407 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Milwaukee has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 268.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,415 per 100K.

Milwaukee Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMilwaukeeWisconsin AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate347.1334.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2340.62036.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1415.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate329.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

268.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

347/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2341/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Milwaukee

Violent crime in Milwaukee is close to the national average. The rate of 347.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2340.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,415 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Milwaukee Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary313
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,415
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft329
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Milwaukee Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Milwaukee
347.1
State
334.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Milwaukee
2340.6
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Milwaukee Safety

Is Milwaukee safe?
Not especially. Milwaukee earns a D with a crime rate of 268.8 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 Milwaukee?
268.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 347.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2340.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Milwaukee safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Milwaukee's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,415 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Milwaukee?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Milwaukee generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Milwaukee police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Milwaukee?
Crime rates have held steady in Milwaukee, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Milwaukee compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Below average for the state. Milwaukee ranks behind about 80% of Wisconsin cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Milwaukee to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Milwaukee?
Bad. A D grade and 268.8 per-thousand rate put Milwaukee below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 347 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Milwaukee?
347.1 per 100,000, which is 5% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (48), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Wisconsin

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

D+
See crime rates in Madison286,233 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Green Bay106,675 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Kenosha99,239 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Racine77,908 pop · Grade D-
C
See crime rates in Appleton75,452 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in Eau Claire72,465 pop · Grade C
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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