Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, La Crosse, WI has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,102.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,734 of 2,971 US cities and #80 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is La Crosse, Wisconsin Safe?
Nestled on the Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is home to Oktoberfest USA. This city of roughly 52,000 residents lies in a unique bluffland topography.
La Crosse has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,102.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
La Crosse ranks #80 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #2734 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in La Crosse is larceny-theft, at 3,269.6 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, La Crosse's total crime rate increased by 35.3%, with violent crime rising 44.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 199 | 391.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 40 | 78.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 13 | 25.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 145 | 284.9 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,889 | 3,711.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 142 | 279.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,664 | 3,269.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 83 | 163.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
La Crosse vs Wisconsin Average
How does La Crosse's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | La Crosse | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 391.0 | 430.5 | -9.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,711.7 | 1,647.2 | +125.3% |
| Murder Rate | 2.0 | 6.0 | -67.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,102.7 | 2,077.7 | +97.5% |
La Crosse Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for La Crosse, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50,893 | 4,102.7 | 391.0 | 3,711.7 |
| 2023 | 50,759 | 3,032.0 | 269.9 | 2,762.1 |
| 2022 | 51,727 | 3,454.7 | 322.9 | 3,131.8 |
| 2021 | 51,143 | 4,317.3 | 262.0 | 4,055.3 |
| 2020 | 51,211 | 4,639.6 | 265.6 | 4,374.1 |
| 2019 | 51,591 | 3,822.4 | 236.5 | 3,585.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Crosse, Wisconsin safe?
La Crosse has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,102.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, La Crosse is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in La Crosse, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, La Crosse has a violent crime rate of 391.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,711.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does La Crosse compare to the national average?
La Crosse's total crime rate of 4,102.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 50,893 residents.
What types of crime are most common in La Crosse?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in La Crosse include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is La Crosse safe to visit?
Like any city, La Crosse has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.