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.

Milwaukee Population: 592,649 1,438 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 70 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,136

Milwaukee, WI holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Wisconsin with 1,438 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,048), robbery (284), rape (74) and homicide (31) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 398% 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: 17,691 499 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 200 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,592

The second most dangerous city is Wisconsin Rapids. With a population of 17,691 and a violent crime rate that is 73% 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 499 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 200 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Beloit Population: 36,804 493 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,708

Home to 36,804 residents, Beloit, WI ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Wisconsin. Unfortunately for residents of Beloit, crime is widespread, with more than 493 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.35 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 71% higher than the Wisconsin violent crime rate.

Rice Lake Population: 8,420 444 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 225 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,875

With a violent crime rate that is 54% 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 (355), rape (89) 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.

Wausau Population: 38,685 410 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 244 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,547

The ongoing battle with crime in Wausau, 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 410 and a 1 in 244 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Wausau has a violent crime rate that is 42% 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 Wausau.

Kenosha Population: 99,767 390 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,393

Kenosha, WI comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 390 per 100,000 people, which is 35% higher than the Wisconsin average. Kenosha has a population of 99,767, which translates to 1.07 crimes per day and 1 in 257 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 Kenosha which are much safer than others.

Brown Deer Population: 11,987 387 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 258 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,450

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 Brown Deer 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 34% higher than the Wisconsin average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (253), robbery (95), rape (39) and homicide (0).

Green Bay Population: 104,508 387 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 259 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,915

Green Bay, WI is another one of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 104,508 and a violent crime rate of 387 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 283 counts of assault, 31 counts of robbery, 66 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Green Bay violent crime rate is 34% higher than the Wisconsin average.

Pleasant Prairie Population: 20,969 385 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 260 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,213

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, Pleasant Prairie, WI comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Wisconsin with a violent crime rate of 385 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.05 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 260 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Sparta Population: 9,751 379 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 264 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,757

Rounding out our list at #10 is Sparta, WI. With a population of 9,751 and a violent crime rate of 379 per 100,000 people (31% higher than the Wisconsin average), some parts of Sparta are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 225 counts of assault, 20 counts of robbery, 123 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 264 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	1,438	4,136
2	Wisconsin Rapids	17,691	499	2,592
3	Beloit	36,804	493	2,708
4	Rice Lake	8,420	444	1,875
5	Wausau	38,685	410	1,547
6	Kenosha	99,767	390	1,393
7	Brown Deer	11,987	387	5,450
8	Green Bay	104,508	387	1,915
9	Pleasant Prairie	20,969	385	1,213
10	Sparta	9,751	379	2,757
11	Platteville	12,113	370	1,914
12	Fitchburg	30,032	365	1,824
13	Hartford	15,228	365	982
14	Racine	76,893	336	1,302
15	Fond du Lac	42,944	333	1,902
16	Sheboygan	48,153	330	1,577
17	Prairie du Chien	5,605	318	2,000
18	Menomonie	16,479	301	1,320
19	Madison	258,366	301	2,636
20	North Fond du Lac	5,076	299	951
21	West Bend	31,587	295	1,781
22	West Allis	59,861	289	2,639
23	Glendale	12,890	280	4,413
24	Marshfield	18,214	278	1,480
25	Appleton	73,891	271	1,676
26	La Crosse	51,543	270	3,032
27	Waupaca	5,916	267	1,505
28	West Salem	5,010	264	1,152
29	Chippewa Falls	14,197	260	856
30	Oshkosh	66,753	255	1,889
31	Marinette	10,566	254	1,587
32	Twin Lakes	6,134	251	767
33	Lake Hallie	6,710	245	599
34	Rothschild	5,286	237	1,656
35	Fort Atkinson	12,455	235	1,159
36	Merrill	9,081	222	2,996
37	DeForest	10,473	220	990
38	Two Rivers	11,079	216	729
39	Menasha	18,280	215	1,152
40	Superior	26,260	213	2,379
41	Portage	10,412	200	1,807
42	Watertown	23,561	198	1,255
43	Cudahy	18,211	198	1,183
44	St. Francis	9,600	198	1,366
45	Jefferson	8,011	198	1,835
46	Berlin	5,410	196	1,178
47	Ashland	7,841	191	3,512
48	Janesville	64,415	189	1,984
49	Plover	12,981	187	1,679
50	Hudson	13,912	182	1,708

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.