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D+

Is Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Safe?

Population 48,649 · Safer than 24% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 48,649, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Wauwatosa earns a D+ with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,619 per 100K.

Wauwatosa Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWauwatosaWisconsin AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate384.8334.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2049.82036.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate234.0--268.2
Theft Rate1619.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate235.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

243.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

385/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2050/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Wauwatosa

Violent crime in Wauwatosa is close to the national average. The rate of 384.8 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2049.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,619 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Wauwatosa Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault234
087% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary299
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,619
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft235
074% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Wauwatosa Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wauwatosa
384.8
State
334.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wauwatosa
2049.8
State
2036.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Wauwatosa Safety

Is Wauwatosa safe?
Not especially. Wauwatosa earns a D+ with a crime rate of 243.5 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 Wauwatosa?
243.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 384.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2049.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Wauwatosa safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Wauwatosa's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,619 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Wauwatosa?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Wauwatosa generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Wauwatosa police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Wauwatosa?
Crime rates have held steady in Wauwatosa, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D+ grade.
How does Wauwatosa compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Below average for the state. Wauwatosa ranks behind about 76% of Wisconsin cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Wauwatosa to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Wauwatosa?
Bad. A D+ grade and 243.5 per-thousand rate put Wauwatosa below 76% of US cities. Violent crime at 385 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Wauwatosa?
384.8 per 100,000, which is 6% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (234), robbery (59), 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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