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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Appleton, WI has a Safety Score of 55/100 — safer than 55% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,548.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,344 of 2,971 US cities and #55 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Appleton, Wisconsin Safe?
Appleton, a Fox Cities community along the Fox River in Northeast Wisconsin, is known for being Harry Houdini's childhood home. This city of over 75,000 residents is a regional hub for healthcare and paper manufacturing.
Appleton has a safety score of 55/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,548.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Appleton ranks #55 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #1344 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 55th percentile for safety — safer than 55% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Appleton is rape, at 52.4 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Appleton's total crime rate decreased by 7.6%, with violent crime declining 25.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Appleton Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 150 | 201.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 2.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 39 | 52.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 9.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 102 | 137.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,002 | 1,346.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 114 | 153.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 841 | 1,130.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 47 | 63.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Appleton vs Wisconsin Average
How does Appleton's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Appleton | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 201.6 | 430.5 | -53.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,346.9 | 1,647.2 | -18.2% |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 6.0 | -55.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,548.5 | 2,077.7 | -25.5% |
Appleton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Appleton, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 74,394 | 1,548.5 | 201.6 | 1,346.9 |
| 2023 | 73,921 | 1,676.1 | 270.6 | 1,405.6 |
| 2022 | 74,411 | 1,786.0 | 271.5 | 1,514.6 |
| 2021 | 74,204 | 1,636.0 | 320.7 | 1,315.3 |
| 2020 | 74,255 | 1,857.1 | 280.1 | 1,577.0 |
| 2019 | 74,757 | 1,710.9 | 275.6 | 1,435.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Appleton, Wisconsin safe?
Appleton has a safety score of 55/100, meaning it has less crime than about 55% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,548.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Appleton is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Appleton, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Appleton has a violent crime rate of 201.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,346.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Appleton compare to the national average?
Appleton's total crime rate of 1,548.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 74,394 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Appleton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Appleton include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Appleton safe to visit?
Like any city, Appleton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 55/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.