Wisconsin is certainly not the most dangerous state in the country, and most of the time you can feel pretty safe in the Badger State. That being said, every state has its most and least dangerous places. The regional infotainment website RoadSnacks FBI data on 118 places in Wisconsin to find its most dangerous cities. Of course, there are plenty of good qualities in these cities, and we aren’t suggesting you avoid them completely, but it’s always good to take precautions. Here are some of the most dangerous cities in Wisconsin! Do any of them surprise you?
- Beloit
Wikimedia Commons Beloit has the second highest murder rate in the state, but it has plenty of redeeming qualities. The charming main street here has been the site of a successful revival in reccent years and has many fun shops and boutiques to enjoy.
- Brown Deer
Aaron Volkening/Flickr Brown Deer is a village north of Milwaukee. It has a population of just over 11,800, and unfortunately, it holds the title for the fifth highest number of property crimes in Wisconsin. In 2019, there were 398 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents - do the math and it’s a little sketch.
- Milwaukee
Flickr/olsonj You’re probably not surprised that the largest city in Wisconsin also had the most crime. This is common with America’s bigger cities, and it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all this city has to offer. Still, it’s wise to be extra careful in Wisconsin’s most dangerous city.
- Rice Lake
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Rice Lake is located in Barron County, and has a small population of just over 8,500. Folks in Rice Lake have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime.
- La Crosse
David Wilson/Flickr La Crosse is a beautiful little river town, but sadly, it still earned a spot on this list thanks to its high rates of larceny and auto theft. It is a lovely place, though, so don’t skip it - just be safe!
- West Allis
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM This Milwaukee suburb attracts lots of visitors as the home of the Wisconsin State Fair, but this could also account for its ranking on the list. Of course you should have fun at the fair, but take precautions to stay safe.
- Madison
Flickr/Richard Hurd It’s possible that its identity as a college town has something to do with its spot on this list, as any temporary increase in the number of residents (tourists, travelers, students, etc.) tends to have an effect on crime data. Of course, this shouldn’t stop you from visiting this fun and dynamic city, but hopefully you will take precautions to keep yourself safe.
- Eau Claire
Kaya/Flickr Eau Claire is located nearby the pristine Eau Claire River in northwest Wisconsin. It made #8 on this list thanks to its unusually high burglary rate - keep yourself (and your things) safe!
- Grand Chute
Grand Chute Town Hall/Facebook Grand Chute averaged one violent crime a week in 2020. Oof. There were also two property crimes per day, earning the town the #9 spot. There’s a really cool butterfly garden here, though, that’s worth visiting anyway!
- Hudson
Doug Kerr/Flickr Finally, Hudson finishes us out at #10. It has 329 property crimes in 2020, which is why it’s on the list. But, again, like everywhere on this list - it’s not unworthy of a visit. Just come during the day!
What did you think of this list? Do you feel safe in your city? You can take comfort in knowing that overall Wisconsin is a pretty safe state, but it’s always good to know more about your surroundings.
Wikimedia Commons
Beloit has the second highest murder rate in the state, but it has plenty of redeeming qualities. The charming main street here has been the site of a successful revival in reccent years and has many fun shops and boutiques to enjoy.
Aaron Volkening/Flickr
Brown Deer is a village north of Milwaukee. It has a population of just over 11,800, and unfortunately, it holds the title for the fifth highest number of property crimes in Wisconsin. In 2019, there were 398 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents - do the math and it’s a little sketch.
Flickr/olsonj
You’re probably not surprised that the largest city in Wisconsin also had the most crime. This is common with America’s bigger cities, and it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all this city has to offer. Still, it’s wise to be extra careful in Wisconsin’s most dangerous city.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Rice Lake is located in Barron County, and has a small population of just over 8,500. Folks in Rice Lake have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime.
David Wilson/Flickr
La Crosse is a beautiful little river town, but sadly, it still earned a spot on this list thanks to its high rates of larceny and auto theft. It is a lovely place, though, so don’t skip it - just be safe!
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
This Milwaukee suburb attracts lots of visitors as the home of the Wisconsin State Fair, but this could also account for its ranking on the list. Of course you should have fun at the fair, but take precautions to stay safe.
Flickr/Richard Hurd
It’s possible that its identity as a college town has something to do with its spot on this list, as any temporary increase in the number of residents (tourists, travelers, students, etc.) tends to have an effect on crime data. Of course, this shouldn’t stop you from visiting this fun and dynamic city, but hopefully you will take precautions to keep yourself safe.
Kaya/Flickr
Eau Claire is located nearby the pristine Eau Claire River in northwest Wisconsin. It made #8 on this list thanks to its unusually high burglary rate - keep yourself (and your things) safe!
Grand Chute Town Hall/Facebook
Grand Chute averaged one violent crime a week in 2020. Oof. There were also two property crimes per day, earning the town the #9 spot. There’s a really cool butterfly garden here, though, that’s worth visiting anyway!
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Finally, Hudson finishes us out at #10. It has 329 property crimes in 2020, which is why it’s on the list. But, again, like everywhere on this list - it’s not unworthy of a visit. Just come during the day!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Most Dangerous Cities in Wisconsin August 08, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the most dangerous towns in Wisconsin? Wisconsin is a safer-than-average state with plenty of amazing things to do, see, and experience. We think you’ll love it! Of course, like anywhere else, there are some dangerous towns in Wisconsin – well, relatively speaking, anyway. Overall, property and violent crime rates here are low, but they are not zero. The small towns in Wisconsin that made the list at the time of this writing include Beloit, which has the second-highest murder rate in the state and residents have a 1 in 206 chance of being the victim of violence here. Another more dangerous town in Wisconsin is Brown Deer, which is a suburb of Milwaukee and has a car theft of about one per week. Yikes! What is life in Wisconsin like? Life in Wisconsin is quiet and low-key, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There are numerous beautiful state parks in Wisconsin, as well as amazing hiking trails in Wisconsin and all the natural wonders you could ever hope for. The weather in winter can be very frigid at times, though, and can be harsh, but the summers make up for it by being pleasantly warm and not terribly gross in terms of humidity (not like somewhere like, say, Georgia). Wisconsin has the 15th-lowest crime rate in the United States, and overall, it’s a place worth visiting (or living in). Where are some dangerous places to avoid in Wisconsin? Other than Brown Deer and Beloit, of course, there are more small towns in Wisconsin (and big cities) that make the top ten most dangerous places list but let us be clear about one thing: Wisconsin is still safer than most states – even in its “most dangerous” places – and it’s definitely worth visiting. We don’t think you should avoid anywhere! Other towns with a higher crime rate than the rest of the state, though, include Milwaukee (which should be unsurprising given its size), Rice Lake, where residents have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime, and La Crosse, which has higher-than-average rates of larceny and vehicle theft.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Most Dangerous Cities in Wisconsin
August 08, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the most dangerous towns in Wisconsin? Wisconsin is a safer-than-average state with plenty of amazing things to do, see, and experience. We think you’ll love it! Of course, like anywhere else, there are some dangerous towns in Wisconsin – well, relatively speaking, anyway. Overall, property and violent crime rates here are low, but they are not zero. The small towns in Wisconsin that made the list at the time of this writing include Beloit, which has the second-highest murder rate in the state and residents have a 1 in 206 chance of being the victim of violence here. Another more dangerous town in Wisconsin is Brown Deer, which is a suburb of Milwaukee and has a car theft of about one per week. Yikes! What is life in Wisconsin like? Life in Wisconsin is quiet and low-key, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There are numerous beautiful state parks in Wisconsin, as well as amazing hiking trails in Wisconsin and all the natural wonders you could ever hope for. The weather in winter can be very frigid at times, though, and can be harsh, but the summers make up for it by being pleasantly warm and not terribly gross in terms of humidity (not like somewhere like, say, Georgia). Wisconsin has the 15th-lowest crime rate in the United States, and overall, it’s a place worth visiting (or living in). Where are some dangerous places to avoid in Wisconsin? Other than Brown Deer and Beloit, of course, there are more small towns in Wisconsin (and big cities) that make the top ten most dangerous places list but let us be clear about one thing: Wisconsin is still safer than most states – even in its “most dangerous” places – and it’s definitely worth visiting. We don’t think you should avoid anywhere! Other towns with a higher crime rate than the rest of the state, though, include Milwaukee (which should be unsurprising given its size), Rice Lake, where residents have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime, and La Crosse, which has higher-than-average rates of larceny and vehicle theft.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Wisconsin is a safer-than-average state with plenty of amazing things to do, see, and experience. We think you’ll love it! Of course, like anywhere else, there are some dangerous towns in Wisconsin – well, relatively speaking, anyway. Overall, property and violent crime rates here are low, but they are not zero. The small towns in Wisconsin that made the list at the time of this writing include Beloit, which has the second-highest murder rate in the state and residents have a 1 in 206 chance of being the victim of violence here. Another more dangerous town in Wisconsin is Brown Deer, which is a suburb of Milwaukee and has a car theft of about one per week. Yikes!
What is life in Wisconsin like?
Life in Wisconsin is quiet and low-key, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. There are numerous beautiful state parks in Wisconsin, as well as amazing hiking trails in Wisconsin and all the natural wonders you could ever hope for. The weather in winter can be very frigid at times, though, and can be harsh, but the summers make up for it by being pleasantly warm and not terribly gross in terms of humidity (not like somewhere like, say, Georgia). Wisconsin has the 15th-lowest crime rate in the United States, and overall, it’s a place worth visiting (or living in).
Where are some dangerous places to avoid in Wisconsin?
Other than Brown Deer and Beloit, of course, there are more small towns in Wisconsin (and big cities) that make the top ten most dangerous places list but let us be clear about one thing: Wisconsin is still safer than most states – even in its “most dangerous” places – and it’s definitely worth visiting. We don’t think you should avoid anywhere! Other towns with a higher crime rate than the rest of the state, though, include Milwaukee (which should be unsurprising given its size), Rice Lake, where residents have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime, and La Crosse, which has higher-than-average rates of larceny and vehicle theft.
