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Appleton vs Milwaukee Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Appleton crime rate · Milwaukee crime rate

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Is Appleton or Milwaukee Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Appleton is safer than Milwaukee (Safety Score 55/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 1,549 per 100,000 versus 4,135 for Milwaukee — 63% lower. Appleton has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Appleton has a 97% lower rate.

Note: Milwaukee is 7.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Appleton, WI?

Appleton — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Milwaukee — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Appleton, WI

Appleton, WI
Safety Score 55/100
Coverage 74,394
Total Crime Rate 1,548.5
Category Wins 7/7

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee, WI
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 560,416
Total Crime Rate 4,135.0
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Appleton Milwaukee Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,548.5 4,135.0 -2,586.5
Violent Crime Rate 201.6 1,434.3 -1,232.7
Murder Rate 2.7 23.9 -21.2
Rape Rate 52.4 68.2 -15.7
Robbery Rate 9.4 308.2 -298.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 137.1 1,030.7 -893.6
Property Crime Rate 1,346.9 2,700.7 -1,353.8
Burglary Rate 153.2 388.1 -234.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,130.5 1,255.1 -124.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 63.2 1,057.4 -994.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Appleton, WI to Milwaukee, WI?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Appleton or Milwaukee safer?

Appleton is safer with a total crime rate of 1,549 per 100K vs 4,135 for Milwaukee — a 63% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Appleton has a violent crime rate of 201.6 per 100K while Milwaukee has 1,434.3. Appleton has lower violent crime.

About Appleton, WI

Appleton, a Fox Cities community along the Fox River in Northeast Wisconsin, is known for being Harry Houdini's childhood home. This city of over 75,000 residents is a regional hub for healthcare and paper manufacturing. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 74,394, Appleton has a total crime rate of 1,548.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee, a city on Lake Michigan's western shore, boasts a rich brewing heritage and a diverse population. Its industrial past is evident in its architecture and strong community ties. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 560,416, Milwaukee has a total crime rate of 4,135.0 per 100,000 residents.

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