Top 10 most dangerous cities in Wisconsin

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.

Milwaukee Population: 592,649 1,509 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 66 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,016

Milwaukee, WI holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Wisconsin with 1,509 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,114), robbery (281), rape (76) and homicide (38) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 408% 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.

Beloit Population: 36,804 612 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 163 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,713

The second most dangerous city is Beloit. With a population of 36,804 and a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Wisconsin average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Beloit are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 612 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 163 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Sparta Population: 9,751 576 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,757

Home to 9,751 residents, Sparta, WI ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Wisconsin. Unfortunately for residents of Sparta, crime is widespread, with more than 576 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.58 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 94% higher than the Wisconsin violent crime rate.

Rice Lake Population: 8,420 492 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,114

With a violent crime rate that is 66% higher than the Wisconsin average, it's not hard to see why Rice Lake made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (425), rape (67) and homicide (0). 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 Rice Lake more vulnerable to high crime.

Racine Population: 76,893 434 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 230 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,939

The ongoing battle with crime in Racine, 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 434 and a 1 in 230 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Racine has a violent crime rate that is 46% 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 Racine.

Wisconsin Rapids Population: 17,691 428 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 234 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,520

Wisconsin Rapids, WI comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 428 per 100,000 people, which is 44% higher than the Wisconsin average. Wisconsin Rapids has a population of 17,691, which translates to 1.17 crimes per day and 1 in 234 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 Wisconsin Rapids which are much safer than others.

Green Bay Population: 104,508 427 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 234 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,151

A 1 in 234 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.17 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Green Bay makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 427 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 44% higher than the Wisconsin average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (330), robbery (28), rape (63) and homicide (6).

Marinette Population: 10,566 399 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 250 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,315

Marinette, WI is another one of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 10,566 and a violent crime rate of 399 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 336 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 9 counts of homicide. All told, the Marinette violent crime rate is 34% higher than the Wisconsin average.

Kenosha Population: 99,767 398 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 252 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,488

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, Kenosha, WI comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Wisconsin with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.09 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 252 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Wausau Population: 38,685 389 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,670

Rounding out our list at #10 is Wausau, WI. With a population of 38,685 and a violent crime rate of 389 per 100,000 people (31% higher than the Wisconsin average), some parts of Wausau are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 269 counts of assault, 18 counts of robbery, 102 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 257 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	1,509	5,016
2	Beloit	36,804	612	2,713
3	Sparta	9,751	576	3,757
4	Rice Lake	8,420	492	2,114
5	Racine	76,893	434	1,939
6	Wisconsin Rapids	17,691	428	2,520
7	Green Bay	104,508	427	2,151
8	Marinette	10,566	399	2,315
9	Kenosha	99,767	398	1,488
10	Wausau	38,685	389	1,670
11	Berlin	5,410	371	1,430
12	Oshkosh	66,753	337	1,960
13	Sheboygan	48,153	333	1,727
14	Fitchburg	30,032	308	1,632
15	Fort Atkinson	12,455	306	1,207
16	La Crosse	51,543	305	3,401
17	Madison	258,366	301	2,697
18	Fond du Lac	42,944	289	1,930
19	West Allis	59,861	286	2,894
20	Chippewa Falls	14,197	276	809
21	Sun Prairie	33,954	274	1,809
22	Glendale	12,890	269	5,198
23	Appleton	73,891	269	1,767
24	Hartford	15,228	266	645
25	Platteville	12,113	263	2,387
26	Pleasant Prairie	20,969	261	1,228
27	Brown Deer	11,987	257	5,352
28	Baraboo	12,133	252	1,819
29	Watertown	23,561	245	1,595
30	Neenah	26,083	231	1,501
31	Whitewater	14,762	230	1,515
32	Lake Mills	5,936	225	931
33	Jefferson	8,011	221	1,907
34	West Bend	31,587	214	2,345
35	Antigo	7,779	214	1,888
36	Superior	26,260	212	2,596
37	St. Francis	9,600	205	1,199
38	Waupaca	5,916	202	2,020
39	Wauwatosa	48,143	199	2,747
40	Manitowoc	32,558	196	1,704
41	Two Rivers	11,079	186	683
42	Menomonie	16,479	185	1,484
43	Prairie du Chien	5,605	183	1,593
44	Ripon	7,802	180	834
45	Hudson	13,912	173	2,492
46	Merrill	9,081	171	2,976
47	Janesville	64,415	169	2,130
48	Stevens Point	26,144	167	1,117
49	Greenfield	37,117	165	2,754
50	Waupun	11,264	165	442

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.