Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Milwaukee, WI has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,135.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,727 of 2,957 US cities and #81 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Milwaukee, WI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Milwaukee, Wisconsin Safe?
Milwaukee, a city on Lake Michigan's western shore, boasts a rich brewing heritage and a diverse population. Its industrial past is evident in its architecture and strong community ties.
Milwaukee has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,135.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Milwaukee ranks #81 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #2727 out of 2957 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 Milwaukee is murder, at 23.9 per 100K — 3.8x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.8x the national rate.
Year over year, Milwaukee's total crime rate decreased by 0.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Milwaukee Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 8,038 | 1,434.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 134 | 23.9 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 382 | 68.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,727 | 308.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 5,776 | 1,030.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 15,135 | 2,700.7 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 2,175 | 388.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 7,034 | 1,255.1 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5,926 | 1,057.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee vs Wisconsin Average
How does Milwaukee's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,434.3 | 430.5 | +233.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,700.7 | 1,647.2 | +64.0% |
| Murder Rate | 23.9 | 6.0 | +297.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,135.0 | 2,077.7 | +99.0% |
Milwaukee Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Between 2019 and 2024, Milwaukee's total crime rate is up 6% (3,889 → 4,135 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 8% and property crime up 6% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2021 at 5,845 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 560,416 | 4,135.0 | 1,434.3 | 2,700.7 |
| 2023 | 558,698 | 4,139.3 | 1,440.9 | 2,698.4 |
| 2022 | 561,743 | 4,802.2 | 1,528.1 | 3,274.1 |
| 2021 | 593,337 | 5,845.1 | 1,608.4 | 4,236.7 |
| 2020 | 589,105 | 4,401.3 | 1,625.4 | 2,775.9 |
| 2019 | 590,923 | 3,889.0 | 1,334.2 | 2,554.8 |
Milwaukee Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee, Wisconsin safe?
Milwaukee 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 4,135.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Milwaukee is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Milwaukee has a violent crime rate of 1,434.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,700.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Milwaukee compare to the national average?
Milwaukee's total crime rate of 4,135.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 560,416 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Milwaukee?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Milwaukee are larceny-theft (7,034 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (5,926 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 1.9x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Milwaukee in 2024?
134 murders were reported to the FBI for Milwaukee in 2024 — a homicide rate of 23.9 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Milwaukee going up or down?
Milwaukee's total crime rate is rising: 6% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (4,135 vs 3,889 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Milwaukee safe to visit?
Like any city, Milwaukee 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.