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Milwaukee vs Waukesha Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Milwaukee crime rate · Waukesha crime rate

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Is Milwaukee or Waukesha Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Waukesha is safer than Milwaukee (Safety Score 75/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 990 per 100,000 versus 4,135 for Milwaukee — 76% lower. Milwaukee has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Waukesha has a 98% lower rate.

Note: Milwaukee is 8.0x 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 SAFER than Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Waukesha — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Milwaukee, WI

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

Waukesha, WI

Waukesha, WI
Safety Score 75/100
Coverage 70,202
Total Crime Rate 990.0
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Milwaukee Waukesha Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,135.0 990.0 +3,145.0
Violent Crime Rate 1,434.3 115.4 +1,318.9
Murder Rate 23.9 1.4 +22.5
Rape Rate 68.2 28.5 +39.7
Robbery Rate 308.2 7.1 +301.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 1,030.7 76.9 +953.7
Property Crime Rate 2,700.7 874.6 +1,826.1
Burglary Rate 388.1 51.3 +336.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,255.1 767.8 +487.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,057.4 55.6 +1,001.9

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

Moving from Milwaukee, WI to Waukesha, 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 Milwaukee or Waukesha safer?

Waukesha is safer with a total crime rate of 990 per 100K vs 4,135 for Milwaukee — a 76% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Milwaukee has a violent crime rate of 1,434.3 per 100K while Waukesha has 115.4. Waukesha has lower violent crime.

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.

About Waukesha, WI

Waukesha, once known as "Spa City" for its spring waters, is a city in southeastern Wisconsin. It serves as the county seat and is home to Carroll University. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 70,202, Waukesha has a total crime rate of 990.0 per 100,000 residents.

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