Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, South Milwaukee, WI has a Safety Score of 58/100 — safer than 58% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,457.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,255 of 2,971 US cities and #51 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is South Milwaukee, Wisconsin Safe?
South Milwaukee, hugging Lake Michigan, developed around Bucyrus International, a major manufacturer. This city of roughly 20,000 residents is just south of Milwaukee proper.
South Milwaukee has a safety score of 58/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,457.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
South Milwaukee ranks #51 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #1255 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 58th percentile for safety — safer than 58% of US cities.
All major crime categories in South Milwaukee are below the national average, with burglary particularly low at 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, South Milwaukee's total crime rate increased by 11.6%, with violent crime rising 10.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
South Milwaukee Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 32 | 158.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 5.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 19.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 19.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 23 | 114.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 262 | 1,298.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 9 | 44.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 240 | 1,189.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 13 | 64.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
South Milwaukee vs Wisconsin Average
How does South Milwaukee's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | South Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 158.6 | 430.5 | -63.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,298.4 | 1,647.2 | -21.2% |
| Murder Rate | 5.0 | 6.0 | -17.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,457.0 | 2,077.7 | -29.9% |
South Milwaukee Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,178 | 1,457.0 | 158.6 | 1,298.4 |
| 2023 | 20,148 | 1,305.3 | 143.9 | 1,161.4 |
| 2022 | 20,247 | 1,303.9 | 138.3 | 1,165.6 |
| 2021 | 20,795 | 1,303.2 | 182.7 | 1,120.5 |
| 2020 | 20,626 | 1,527.2 | 111.5 | 1,415.7 |
| 2019 | 20,731 | 1,813.7 | 139.9 | 1,673.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Milwaukee, Wisconsin safe?
South Milwaukee has a safety score of 58/100, meaning it has less crime than about 58% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,457.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, South Milwaukee is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, South Milwaukee has a violent crime rate of 158.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,298.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does South Milwaukee compare to the national average?
South Milwaukee's total crime rate of 1,457.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 20,178 residents.
What types of crime are most common in South Milwaukee?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in South Milwaukee include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is South Milwaukee safe to visit?
Like any city, South Milwaukee has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 58/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.