Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Watertown, WI has a Safety Score of 65/100 — safer than 65% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,242.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,044 of 2,971 US cities and #41 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Watertown, Wisconsin Safe?
Watertown, WI, straddles the Rock River, a city with a rich German heritage and home to the first kindergarten in the United States. This Dodge and Jefferson County community has a population of approximately 24,000.
Watertown has a safety score of 65/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,242.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Watertown ranks #41 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #1044 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 65th percentile for safety — safer than 65% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Watertown is rape, at 61.9 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Watertown's total crime rate decreased by 1%, with violent crime declining 1.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Watertown Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 44 | 194.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 14 | 61.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 8.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 27 | 119.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 237 | 1,048.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 9 | 39.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 214 | 946.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 14 | 61.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Watertown vs Wisconsin Average
How does Watertown's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Watertown | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 194.6 | 430.5 | -54.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,048.1 | 1,647.2 | -36.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,242.7 | 2,077.7 | -40.2% |
Watertown Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Watertown, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22,612 | 1,242.7 | 194.6 | 1,048.1 |
| 2023 | 22,711 | 1,254.9 | 198.1 | 1,056.8 |
| 2022 | 22,885 | 1,603.7 | 249.1 | 1,354.6 |
| 2021 | 23,322 | 1,007.6 | 175.8 | 831.8 |
| 2020 | 23,437 | 994.2 | 221.9 | 772.3 |
| 2019 | 23,596 | 1,220.6 | 199.2 | 1,021.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Watertown, Wisconsin safe?
Watertown has a safety score of 65/100, meaning it has less crime than about 65% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,242.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Watertown is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Watertown, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Watertown has a violent crime rate of 194.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,048.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Watertown compare to the national average?
Watertown's total crime rate of 1,242.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 22,612 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Watertown?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Watertown include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Watertown safe to visit?
Like any city, Watertown has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 65/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.