Top 10 most dangerous cities in Wisconsin

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Wisconsin, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Milwaukee to the scenic beauty of Door County, Wisconsin provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Wisconsin faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Wisconsin are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Wisconsin's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Wisconsin involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Wisconsin's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Milwaukee Population: 592,649 1,431 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 70 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,132

Milwaukee, WI holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Wisconsin with 1,431 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,031), robbery (308), rape (68) and homicide (24) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 414% higher than the Wisconsin average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Wisconsin Rapids Population: 17,691 532 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 188 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,424

The second most dangerous city is Wisconsin Rapids. With a population of 17,691 and a violent crime rate that is 91% higher than the Wisconsin average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Wisconsin Rapids are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 532 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 188 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Green Bay Population: 104,508 495 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 202 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,807

Home to 104,508 residents, Green Bay, WI ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Wisconsin. Unfortunately for residents of Green Bay, crime is widespread, with more than 495 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.36 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 78% higher than the Wisconsin violent crime rate.

Sheboygan Population: 48,153 427 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 234 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,715

With a violent crime rate that is 53% higher than the Wisconsin average, it's not hard to see why Sheboygan made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (6), assault (314), rape (103) and homicide (4). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Sheboygan more vulnerable to high crime.

Beloit Population: 36,804 392 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 255 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,606

The ongoing battle with crime in Beloit, WI, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 392 and a 1 in 255 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Beloit has a violent crime rate that is 41% higher than the Wisconsin average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Beloit.

La Crosse Population: 51,543 391 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 256 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,103

La Crosse, WI comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 391 per 100,000 people, which is 40% higher than the Wisconsin average. La Crosse has a population of 51,543, which translates to 1.07 crimes per day and 1 in 256 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in La Crosse which are much safer than others.

Fond du Lac Population: 42,944 387 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 258 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,491

A 1 in 258 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.06 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Fond du Lac makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 387 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 39% higher than the Wisconsin average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (285), robbery (29), rape (68) and homicide (5).

Racine Population: 76,893 383 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 261 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,495

Racine, WI is another one of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 76,893 and a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 237 counts of assault, 62 counts of robbery, 79 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Racine violent crime rate is 38% higher than the Wisconsin average.

Platteville Population: 12,113 367 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 273 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,641

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Platteville, WI comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Wisconsin with a violent crime rate of 367 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.00 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 273 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Waupaca Population: 5,916 362 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 276 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,732

Rounding out our list at #10 is Waupaca, WI. With a population of 5,916 and a violent crime rate of 362 per 100,000 people (30% higher than the Wisconsin average), some parts of Waupaca are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 315 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 47 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 276 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Milwaukee	592,649	1,431	4,132
2	Wisconsin Rapids	17,691	532	2,424
3	Green Bay	104,508	495	1,807
4	Sheboygan	48,153	427	1,715
5	Beloit	36,804	392	2,606
6	La Crosse	51,543	391	4,103
7	Fond du Lac	42,944	387	2,491
8	Racine	76,893	383	1,495
9	Platteville	12,113	367	1,641
10	Waupaca	5,916	362	1,732
11	Tomah	9,342	351	2,050
12	Brown Deer	11,987	348	2,960
13	Sparta	9,751	317	3,445
14	Pleasant Prairie	20,969	314	1,392
15	Wausau	38,685	295	1,304
16	Glendale	12,890	295	4,481
17	Kenosha	99,767	286	1,152
18	Waupun	11,264	285	662
19	Fitchburg	30,032	275	1,616
20	West Allis	59,861	257	2,234
21	Madison	258,366	256	2,121
22	Jefferson	8,011	250	1,620
23	Rice Lake	8,420	245	1,589
24	Antigo	7,779	239	1,436
25	West Bend	31,587	238	1,409
26	Fort Atkinson	12,455	236	994
27	Ashwaubenon	17,130	235	2,448
28	Oshkosh	66,753	232	1,683
29	North Fond du Lac	5,076	224	802
30	Superior	26,260	220	2,425
31	Chippewa Falls	14,197	219	889
32	Shawano	8,928	217	1,418
33	Two Rivers	11,079	215	700
34	Marshfield	18,214	214	1,328
35	Manitowoc	32,558	208	1,178
36	Wauwatosa	48,143	207	2,689
37	Appleton	73,891	202	1,549
38	Whitewater	14,762	200	918
39	Merrill	9,081	200	2,620
40	Stoughton	13,146	192	1,454
41	Watertown	23,561	190	1,238
42	Delavan	8,296	188	1,407
43	Sun Prairie	33,954	184	1,594
44	Ripon	7,802	181	827
45	Ashland	7,841	178	3,126
46	Menasha	18,280	178	1,061
47	Marinette	10,566	172	1,842
48	Stevens Point	26,144	163	783
49	Eau Claire	68,720	162	2,068
50	South Milwaukee	20,857	159	1,457

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Wisconsin cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.