Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Madison, WI has a Safety Score of 37/100 — higher crime than 63% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,854 of 2,957 US cities and #70 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Madison, WI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Madison, Wisconsin Safe?
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, sits on an isthmus between two lakes, Mendota and Monona. Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it's known for its progressive politics and vibrant student culture. Students flock to Madison for University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the region's top schools.
Madison has a safety score of 37/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Madison ranks #70 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #1854 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 37th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 63% of US cities.
Year over year, Madison's total crime rate decreased by 19.6%, with violent crime declining 15.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Madison Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 723 | 256.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 7 | 2.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 75 | 26.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 95 | 33.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 545 | 193.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 5,260 | 1,865.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 447 | 158.5 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 4,500 | 1,595.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 313 | 111.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Madison vs Wisconsin Average
How does Madison's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Madison | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 256.3 | 430.5 | -40.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,865.0 | 1,647.2 | +13.2% |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 6.0 | -58.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,121.3 | 2,077.7 | +2.1% |
Madison Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Madison, Wisconsin.
Between 2019 and 2024, Madison's total crime rate is down 25% (2,834 → 2,121 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 29% and property crime down 25% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2020 at 3,113 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 282,045 | 2,121.3 | 256.3 | 1,865.0 |
| 2023 | 274,234 | 2,638.3 | 303.4 | 2,334.9 |
| 2022 | 269,546 | 2,720.1 | 309.8 | 2,410.4 |
| 2021 | 266,199 | 2,837.7 | 312.6 | 2,525.2 |
| 2020 | 262,736 | 3,112.6 | 325.8 | 2,786.8 |
| 2019 | 261,270 | 2,833.9 | 359.8 | 2,474.1 |
Madison Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Madison and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Wisconsin crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madison, Wisconsin safe?
Madison has a safety score of 37/100, meaning it has less crime than about 37% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Madison is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Madison, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Madison has a violent crime rate of 256.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,865.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Madison compare to the national average?
Madison's total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 282,045 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Madison?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Madison are larceny-theft (4,500 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (545 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 7.3x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Madison in 2024?
7 murders were reported to the FBI for Madison in 2024 — a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Madison going up or down?
Madison's total crime rate is falling: 25% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (2,121 vs 2,834 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Madison safe to visit?
Like any city, Madison has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 37/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.