Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Wausau, WI has a Safety Score of 63/100 — safer than 63% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,304.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,104 of 2,971 US cities and #45 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wausau, Wisconsin Safe?
Nestled along the Wisconsin River, Wausau is the county seat of Marathon County, known for its historic Grand Theater. This city in north-central Wisconsin has a population of around 39,000.
Wausau has a safety score of 63/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,304.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Wausau ranks #45 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #1104 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 63rd percentile for safety — safer than 63% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Wausau is rape, at 105.1 per 100K — 2.4x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Wausau's total crime rate decreased by 15.7%, with violent crime declining 28%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wausau Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 118 | 295.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 42 | 105.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 15.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 69 | 172.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 403 | 1,008.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 43 | 107.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 334 | 836.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 26 | 65.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wausau vs Wisconsin Average
How does Wausau's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Wausau | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 295.4 | 430.5 | -31.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,008.8 | 1,647.2 | -38.8% |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 6.0 | -58.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,304.2 | 2,077.7 | -37.2% |
Wausau Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wausau, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39,949 | 1,304.2 | 295.4 | 1,008.8 |
| 2023 | 39,743 | 1,547.4 | 410.1 | 1,137.3 |
| 2022 | 39,349 | 1,679.8 | 396.5 | 1,283.4 |
| 2021 | 38,435 | 2,058.0 | 418.9 | 1,639.1 |
| 2020 | 38,492 | 1,935.5 | 475.4 | 1,460.0 |
| 2019 | 38,507 | 1,760.7 | 407.7 | 1,353.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wausau, Wisconsin safe?
Wausau has a safety score of 63/100, meaning it has less crime than about 63% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,304.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wausau is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Wausau, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wausau has a violent crime rate of 295.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,008.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wausau compare to the national average?
Wausau's total crime rate of 1,304.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 39,949 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wausau?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wausau include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Wausau safe to visit?
Like any city, Wausau has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 63/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.