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D+

Is Watertown, Wisconsin Safe?

Population 22,704 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Watertown is a smaller community of 22,704 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 252.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,782 per 100K.

Watertown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWatertownWisconsin AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate327.2334.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2194.92036.01,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate190.0--268.2
Theft Rate1782.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate258.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

252.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

327/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2195/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Watertown

Violent crime in Watertown is close to the national average. The rate of 327.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2194.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,782 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Watertown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault190
071% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery50
079% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary282
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,782
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft258
081% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Watertown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
327.2
State
334.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
2194.9
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Watertown Safety

Is Watertown safe?
Not especially. Watertown earns a D+ with a crime rate of 252.2 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 Watertown?
252.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 327.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2194.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Watertown safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Watertown's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,782 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Watertown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Watertown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Watertown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Watertown?
Crime rates have held steady in Watertown, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D+ grade.
How does Watertown compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Below average for the state. Watertown ranks behind about 83% of Wisconsin cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Watertown 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 Watertown?
Bad. A D+ grade and 252.2 per-thousand rate put Watertown below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 327 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Watertown?
327.2 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (190), robbery (50), and murder (5.0) 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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