It used to be where the only thing dangerous in Wisconsin was an angry Cheesehead after a Green Bay Packers loss. Unfortunately, there are now several dangerous places in Wisconsin.
Most of Wisconsin’s crime centers around the state’s largest places. While crime rates are high in cities like Milwaukee and Madison, the most dangerous place in Wisconsin doesn’t even break 10,000 residents.
To find the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin, we analyzed 134 cities with over 5,000 residents. Specifically, we looked at the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime per capita.
Not sold on Wisconsin? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
1,431 violent crimes /100k · 2,701 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Washington County, WisconsinKnown for great beer and being a Mecca for motorcyclists, Milwaukee likes to have fun.
Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s biggest city is also the most violent as well. In Milwaukee, folks had a 1 in 69 shot of being the victim of a murder, rape, robbery, or assault over 2024. That includes the highest murder rate statewide.
And while property crime isn’t as bad in Milwaukee, the city still had the second highest burglary rate in Wisconsin, averaging about ten a day (about often as stolen cars).
Overall, Milwaukeeans can still enjoy a high quality of life if they stick to Brew City’s best neighborhoods.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
391 violent crimes /100k · 3,712 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
La Crosse County, WisconsinLa Crosse sits along the Mississippi River, across the water from Minnesota. This placement has long made the town an important trade area (even now, it sits on I-90, one of the country’s main east-west roadways).
Being one of the main cities in its region, La Crosse suffers some of the crime you’d expect from a high population density. That includes high rates of larceny and car theft.
However, life in La Crosse does have its benefits as well. It has plenty of parks near the river, plus a host of museums and universities.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
317 violent crimes /100k · 3,129 property crimes /100k · #13 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Monroe County, WisconsinLocated in Wisconsin’s Monroe County, Sparta has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Despite its setting along the La Crosse River, Sparta has been ranked as the third most dangerous place in Wisconsin for 2026. The city, with a population of 9,781, has witnessed a surge in violent crimes, including 5 cases of rape and 26 aggravated assaults.
With a violent crime rate of 317/100k, Sparta holds the 13th highest position in the state. Its property crime rate stands at 3,129/100k. These alarming figures underline the potential dangers of residing in this otherwise tranquil city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
295 violent crimes /100k · 4,186 property crimes /100k · #16 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Milwaukee County, WisconsinChock full of beer fests and beer gardens, Glendale is like a mini version of Milwaukee to its south.
Fortunately, Glendale went up 2 spots on this list from last year, so things are improving. On the bad side, property crime still ranks as the second highest worst in the state, with residents facing a 1 in 23 of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2024.
Glendale’s overall crime rate also ranks as the second highest in Wisconsin — about three times higher than the national average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
392 violent crimes /100k · 2,214 property crimes /100k · #5 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Rock County, WisconsinIf you’re looking to stay safe in Wisconsin, you might want to avoid its fifth most dangerous city, Beloit. Located about an hour south of Madison, Beloit is one of the only places on this list to rank in the top ten statewide for both violent and property crime.
You’ll want to watch your wallet when you’re out at Beloit’s farmer’s market, because there were 659 larceny cases recorded in 2024. It’s also a good idea to double-check all your locks if you’re in Beloit, what with the 64 stolen cars and 79 burglaries.
And it’s not just property crime that makes Beloit so dangerous — the city also had the fifth highest murder rate in Wisconsin, and residents had a 1 in 255 shot of being violently attacked over the year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
348 violent crimes /100k · 2,612 property crimes /100k · #12 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Milwaukee County, WisconsinThe sixth most dangerous place in America’s Dairyland turns out to be Brown Deer, a village just 20 minutes north of Milwaukee. As you can guess by Brown Deer’s high crime rate, the village was far from making the cut for Milwaukee’s best suburbs.
Padlocking your picnic basket before a trip to one of Brown Deer’s parks might be a good idea, considering the village had the eighth highest property crime rate in Wisconsin.
Oh, and a car got stolen here every other week, on average — quite common for a place with only 12,636 people.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
387 violent crimes /100k · 2,104 property crimes /100k · #7 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Fond du Lac County, WisconsinFond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for Bottom of the Lake, named as such because of its location at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 43,021 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
532 violent crimes /100k · 1,892 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Wood County, WisconsinWisconsin Rapids, situated in Wood County and known for its papermaking history, ranks as the eighth most dangerous place to live in Wisconsin. The city has a population of 18,602 and recorded a total of 99 violent and 352 property crimes. The city’s crime rate stands at 2,424/100k, making it one of the highest in the state.
Despite having no recorded murders, the city’s violent crime per capita stands at 532/100k, giving it the second highest rank statewide. WisconsinRapids’ high crime rate makes it a dangerous place to live.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
234 violent crimes /100k · 4,414 property crimes /100k · #28 most violent in Wisconsin
Situated just north of the hip, safe city of Appleton, Grand Chute ranks as the ninth most dangerous place to call home in Wisconsin.
Grand Chute averaged just over one violent crime per week in 2024, which isn’t too bad for a city of 24,397. There were also about two property crimes committed each day, which is enough to give the town the highest property crime rate statewide.
At least there’s a butterfly garden and a nature preserve within a ten-minute drive from Grand Chute, if you need to calm your nerves about the high crime rate.
235 violent crimes /100k · 2,213 property crimes /100k · #27 most violent in Wisconsin
Located in
Brown County, WisconsinAshwaubenon is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 16,963 at the 2010 census. A suburb of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Ashwaubenon is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. Part of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is in Ashwaubenon.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Wisconsin’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Wisconsin
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Wisconsin. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Wisconsin, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Wisconsin.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Wisconsin cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 134 cities in Wisconsin.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 134 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Wisconsin — Milwaukee. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Wisconsin and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In Wisconsin
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee | 4.00 | 560,416 | 4,132 | 1,431 | 2,701 | 134 |
| 2 | La Crosse | 4.50 | 50,893 | 4,103 | 391 | 3,712 | 1 |
| 3 | Sparta | 9.00 | 9,781 | 3,445 | 317 | 3,129 | 0 |
| 4 | Glendale | 9.00 | 12,877 | 4,481 | 295 | 4,186 | 0 |
| 5 | Beloit | 9.00 | 36,231 | 2,606 | 392 | 2,214 | 4 |
| 6 | Brown Deer | 10.00 | 12,636 | 2,960 | 348 | 2,612 | 0 |
| 7 | Fond du Lac | 12.00 | 44,164 | 2,491 | 387 | 2,104 | 2 |
| 8 | Wisconsin Rapids | 12.50 | 18,602 | 2,424 | 532 | 1,892 | 0 |
| 9 | Grand Chute | 14.50 | 24,397 | 4,648 | 234 | 4,414 | 0 |
| 10 | Ashwaubenon | 20.50 | 16,992 | 2,448 | 235 | 2,213 | 0 |
| 11 | West Allis | 20.50 | 58,862 | 2,234 | 257 | 1,978 | 0 |
| 12 | Tomah | 21.50 | 9,414 | 2,050 | 351 | 1,700 | 1 |
| 13 | Superior | 23.00 | 26,310 | 2,425 | 220 | 2,204 | 1 |
| 14 | Wauwatosa | 23.00 | 46,968 | 2,689 | 207 | 2,483 | 0 |
| 15 | Madison | 23.00 | 282,045 | 2,121 | 256 | 1,865 | 7 |
| 16 | Green Bay | 24.00 | 105,240 | 1,807 | 495 | 1,312 | 2 |
| 17 | Waupaca | 25.00 | 6,352 | 1,732 | 362 | 1,370 | 0 |
| 18 | Merrill | 25.00 | 9,006 | 2,620 | 200 | 2,421 | 0 |
| 19 | Sheboygan | 25.50 | 49,610 | 1,715 | 427 | 1,288 | 2 |
| 20 | Ashland | 26.00 | 7,870 | 3,126 | 178 | 2,948 | 0 |
| 21 | Platteville | 28.50 | 10,907 | 1,641 | 367 | 1,274 | 0 |
| 22 | Jefferson | 31.50 | 7,594 | 1,620 | 250 | 1,370 | 0 |
| 23 | Fitchburg | 31.50 | 32,727 | 1,616 | 275 | 1,341 | 0 |
| 24 | Rice Lake | 33.00 | 8,997 | 1,589 | 245 | 1,345 | 0 |
| 25 | Oshkosh | 33.50 | 65,994 | 1,683 | 232 | 1,452 | 4 |
| 26 | Racine | 36.00 | 76,243 | 1,495 | 383 | 1,112 | 4 |
| 27 | Eau Claire | 36.50 | 70,891 | 2,068 | 162 | 1,906 | 2 |
| 28 | Antigo | 39.00 | 7,938 | 1,436 | 239 | 1,197 | 1 |
| 29 | West Bend | 40.00 | 31,947 | 1,409 | 238 | 1,171 | 0 |
| 30 | Appleton | 40.00 | 74,394 | 1,549 | 202 | 1,347 | 2 |
| 31 | Pleasant Prairie | 40.50 | 21,981 | 1,392 | 314 | 1,078 | 2 |
| 32 | Marinette | 41.50 | 11,023 | 1,842 | 172 | 1,669 | 0 |
| 33 | Sun Prairie | 41.50 | 38,519 | 1,594 | 184 | 1,410 | 1 |
| 34 | Janesville | 42.00 | 66,247 | 1,985 | 143 | 1,842 | 3 |
| 35 | Shawano | 43.00 | 9,236 | 1,418 | 217 | 1,202 | 0 |
| 36 | Wausau | 43.00 | 39,949 | 1,304 | 295 | 1,009 | 1 |
| 37 | Reedsburg | 43.50 | 10,243 | 2,011 | 127 | 1,884 | 0 |
| 38 | Oak Creek | 44.00 | 37,665 | 1,832 | 146 | 1,686 | 0 |
| 39 | Stoughton | 45.00 | 12,996 | 1,454 | 192 | 1,262 | 0 |
| 40 | Delavan | 46.50 | 10,091 | 1,407 | 188 | 1,219 | 0 |
| 41 | Greenfield | 47.00 | 36,919 | 2,400 | 92 | 2,308 | 0 |
| 42 | Marshfield | 49.00 | 18,669 | 1,328 | 214 | 1,114 | 1 |
| 43 | South Milwaukee | 49.00 | 20,178 | 1,457 | 159 | 1,298 | 1 |
| 44 | Kenosha | 49.00 | 97,652 | 1,152 | 286 | 866 | 3 |
| 45 | Mount Pleasant | 50.00 | 27,731 | 1,846 | 112 | 1,735 | 0 |
| 46 | Minocqua | 50.50 | 5,151 | 2,136 | 97 | 2,038 | 0 |
| 47 | Hudson | 51.00 | 15,714 | 1,763 | 115 | 1,648 | 0 |
| 48 | Manitowoc | 54.50 | 34,546 | 1,178 | 208 | 970 | 0 |
| 49 | Portage | 55.00 | 9,978 | 2,095 | 80 | 2,014 | 0 |
| 50 | Menomonie | 55.00 | 16,595 | 1,344 | 133 | 1,211 | 0 |
| 51 | Rhinelander | 55.50 | 8,152 | 1,816 | 98 | 1,717 | 0 |
| 52 | Watertown | 55.50 | 22,612 | 1,238 | 190 | 1,048 | 0 |
| 53 | Neenah | 56.00 | 27,480 | 1,299 | 156 | 1,143 | 0 |
| 54 | Fort Atkinson | 57.00 | 12,274 | 994 | 236 | 758 | 0 |
| 55 | Lake Geneva | 57.50 | 8,816 | 1,735 | 102 | 1,633 | 0 |
| 56 | Beaver Dam | 58.50 | 16,473 | 1,269 | 146 | 1,123 | 0 |
| 57 | Delafield | 60.50 | 7,206 | 2,137 | 56 | 2,082 | 0 |
| 58 | Monona | 62.50 | 8,511 | 3,172 | 35 | 3,137 | 0 |
| 59 | Chippewa Falls | 62.50 | 14,626 | 889 | 219 | 670 | 0 |
| 60 | Menasha | 63.00 | 18,008 | 1,061 | 178 | 883 | 0 |
| 61 | Beloit Town | 64.50 | 7,748 | 1,200 | 129 | 1,071 | 1 |
| 62 | Whitewater | 64.50 | 15,473 | 918 | 200 | 717 | 1 |
| 63 | Onalaska | 64.75 | 19,068 | 2,329 | 37 | 2,292 | 0 |
| 64 | West Salem | 65.00 | 5,305 | 1,244 | 113 | 1,131 | 0 |
| 65 | North Fond du Lac | 65.50 | 5,361 | 802 | 224 | 578 | 0 |
| 66 | Mukwonago | 66.00 | 8,568 | 1,272 | 105 | 1,167 | 0 |
| 67 | St. Francis | 67.00 | 9,524 | 1,270 | 105 | 1,165 | 0 |
| 68 | Pewaukee Village | 67.50 | 8,180 | 2,176 | 37 | 2,139 | 0 |
| 69 | Waupun | 68.50 | 10,873 | 662 | 285 | 377 | 1 |
| 70 | Dodgeville | 70.00 | 5,120 | 1,895 | 39 | 1,855 | 0 |
| 71 | Ripon | 70.50 | 7,738 | 827 | 181 | 646 | 0 |
| 72 | Two Rivers | 72.00 | 11,138 | 700 | 215 | 485 | 0 |
| 73 | River Falls | 72.00 | 17,171 | 990 | 128 | 862 | 1 |
| 74 | Stevens Point | 73.50 | 25,784 | 783 | 163 | 621 | 1 |
| 75 | Waukesha | 74.00 | 70,202 | 989 | 114 | 875 | 1 |
| 76 | New Richmond | 74.50 | 10,890 | 1,019 | 110 | 909 | 0 |
| 77 | Altoona | 75.00 | 9,623 | 1,839 | 31 | 1,808 | 1 |
| 78 | Hartford | 75.50 | 15,959 | 821 | 132 | 689 | 0 |
| 79 | Middleton | 76.00 | 23,353 | 998 | 107 | 891 | 2 |
| 80 | Hales Corners | 76.50 | 7,515 | 745 | 146 | 599 | 1 |
| 81 | Brookfield | 76.50 | 42,019 | 1,180 | 83 | 1,097 | 0 |
| 82 | Burlington | 77.00 | 11,042 | 1,060 | 100 | 960 | 0 |
| 83 | Cudahy | 78.00 | 17,683 | 888 | 113 | 775 | 0 |
| 84 | Shorewood | 78.50 | 13,629 | 1,724 | 22 | 1,702 | 0 |
| 85 | Franklin | 79.00 | 35,535 | 1,258 | 51 | 1,207 | 0 |
| 86 | Germantown | 80.50 | 21,066 | 1,182 | 62 | 1,120 | 0 |
| 87 | Greendale | 81.50 | 14,461 | 1,023 | 83 | 940 | 0 |
| 88 | Muskego | 83.50 | 25,389 | 1,544 | 12 | 1,532 | 0 |
| 89 | Lake Mills | 84.50 | 6,731 | 669 | 119 | 550 | 0 |
| 90 | Fox Valley Metro | 84.50 | 23,754 | 539 | 177 | 362 | 0 |
| 91 | Kaukauna | 85.00 | 17,622 | 783 | 102 | 681 | 0 |
| 92 | New Berlin | 85.00 | 40,186 | 1,055 | 62 | 993 | 1 |
| 93 | Deforest | 87.00 | 11,195 | 893 | 80 | 813 | 0 |
| 94 | Fox Crossing | 87.50 | 18,926 | 835 | 90 | 745 | 0 |
| 95 | Slinger | 89.00 | 6,471 | 510 | 139 | 371 | 0 |
| 96 | Sturgeon Bay | 89.50 | 9,928 | 745 | 91 | 655 | 0 |
| 97 | Cottage Grove | 90.50 | 9,518 | 567 | 116 | 452 | 0 |
| 98 | McFarland | 90.50 | 9,602 | 885 | 62 | 823 | 0 |
| 99 | Monroe | 91.00 | 10,373 | 1,176 | 29 | 1,147 | 0 |
| 100 | Sheboygan Falls | 91.50 | 8,181 | 917 | 61 | 856 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 134 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Wisconsin
So what is the most dangerous city in Wisconsin? After analyzing 134 cities in Wisconsin, Milwaukee takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Wisconsin based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Milwaukee ranks as the most dangerous city in Wisconsin for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Wisconsin are Milwaukee, La Crosse, Sparta, Glendale, Beloit, Brown Deer, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Rapids, Grand Chute, and Ashwaubenon.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Milwaukee and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Wondering how Milwaukee stacks up against a bigger name? See Milwaukee, WI vs. Madison, WI side by side.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Wisconsin FAQs
Is Wisconsin a dangerous state?
No, Wisconsin is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #12 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Wisconsin ranks 3most dangerous in the United States — 12.56% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Badger State ranks 39th most dangerous in the United States — 23.98% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Milwaukee, WI a dangerous city?
Yes, Milwaukee is a dangerous city. Milwaukee ranks as the #42 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Milwaukee might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, North Granville is the safest in Milwaukee, while Franklin Heights is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Milwaukee ranks 11th highest in America — 172.53% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 73rd highest in the United States — 28.53% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
