Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Onalaska, WI has a Safety Score of 32/100 — higher crime than 68% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,328.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,017 of 2,971 US cities and #72 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Onalaska, Wisconsin Safe?
Onalaska, Wisconsin, nestled along the Black River, is a La Crosse suburb known as "The Sunfish Capital of the World." Its population of over 19,000 residents enjoys a mix of residential areas and commercial development.
Onalaska has a safety score of 32/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,328.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Onalaska ranks #72 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #2017 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 32nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 68% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Onalaska is larceny-theft, at 2,186.9 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Onalaska's total crime rate decreased by 7.1%, with violent crime declining 58.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Onalaska Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 7 | 36.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 21.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3 | 15.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 437 | 2,291.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 16 | 83.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 417 | 2,186.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 21.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Onalaska vs Wisconsin Average
How does Onalaska's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Onalaska | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 36.7 | 430.5 | -91.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,291.8 | 1,647.2 | +39.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,328.5 | 2,077.7 | +12.1% |
Onalaska Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Onalaska, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,068 | 2,328.5 | 36.7 | 2,291.8 |
| 2023 | 19,029 | 2,506.7 | 89.3 | 2,417.4 |
| 2022 | 18,807 | 2,174.7 | 37.2 | 2,137.5 |
| 2021 | 19,243 | 3,279.1 | 88.3 | 3,190.8 |
| 2020 | 19,072 | 3,853.8 | 94.4 | 3,759.4 |
| 2019 | 18,825 | 2,826.0 | 53.1 | 2,772.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Onalaska, Wisconsin safe?
Onalaska has a safety score of 32/100, meaning it has less crime than about 32% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,328.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Onalaska is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Onalaska, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Onalaska has a violent crime rate of 36.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,291.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Onalaska compare to the national average?
Onalaska's total crime rate of 2,328.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 19,068 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Onalaska?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Onalaska include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Onalaska safe to visit?
Like any city, Onalaska has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 32/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.