Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Wauwatosa, WI has a Safety Score of 24/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,691.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,233 of 2,957 US cities and #78 of 83 in Wisconsin.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Wauwatosa, WI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Safe?
Wauwatosa, meaning "firefly" in Potawatomi, is a western Milwaukee suburb bisected by the Menomonee River. Home to historic mansions and modern developments, it boasts a population of over 48,000 residents.
Wauwatosa has a safety score of 24/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,691.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Wauwatosa ranks #78 out of 83 cities in Wisconsin and #2233 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Wauwatosa is larceny-theft, at 2,007.8 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Wauwatosa's total crime rate increased by 6%, with violent crime rising 24%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wauwatosa Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 98 | 208.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 7 | 14.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 23 | 49.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 67 | 142.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,166 | 2,482.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 70 | 149.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 943 | 2,007.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 153 | 325.8 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wauwatosa vs Wisconsin Average
How does Wauwatosa's crime rate compare to the Wisconsin state average?
| Metric | Wauwatosa | Wisconsin Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 208.7 | 430.5 | -51.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,482.5 | 1,647.2 | +50.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,691.2 | 2,077.7 | +29.5% |
Wauwatosa Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 46,968 | 2,691.2 | 208.7 | 2,482.5 |
| 2023 | 46,935 | 2,539.7 | 168.3 | 2,371.4 |
| 2022 | 47,149 | 2,808.1 | 216.3 | 2,591.8 |
| 2021 | 48,650 | 2,848.9 | 143.9 | 2,705.0 |
| 2020 | 48,265 | 2,560.9 | 143.0 | 2,417.9 |
| 2019 | 48,562 | 2,858.2 | 117.4 | 2,740.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wauwatosa, Wisconsin safe?
Wauwatosa has a safety score of 24/100, meaning it has less crime than about 24% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,691.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wauwatosa is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wauwatosa has a violent crime rate of 208.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,482.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wauwatosa compare to the national average?
Wauwatosa's total crime rate of 2,691.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 46,968 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wauwatosa?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wauwatosa are larceny-theft (943 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (153 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 11.9x in the city.
Is Wauwatosa safe to visit?
Like any city, Wauwatosa has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 24/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.