Milwaukee, the Cream City, is the most populous city in Wisconsin with a population of around 550K. It's located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. It's a city with 191 neighborhoods and is home to major manufacturing companies like Harley-Davidson.
You might have heard about Milwaukee's elevated crime rate in the news. It's a major concern for the visitors and authorities.
And today, we're going to dive into the details of Milwaukee's crimes. We will discuss the recent crime statistics, highlight some of the safest neighborhoods in the city, and share some safety and security tips for the residents/visitors.
Is Milwaukee a Safe City?
Milwaukee's crime rate is higher than the state and national average, which indicates there is a higher number of crimes per capita.
The overall crime rate of the city is 42.54 per 1,000 residents. It's almost 85% higher than the national median of 23. Compared to the crime rate of Wisconsin (15.05), it is 182% higher. The chances of becoming a victim of a crime in Milwaukee are 1 in 25.
In the FBI crime report 2024 (reflecting 2023), 23,879 crimes were reported in Milwaukee. It is 26.8% of Wisconsin's annual crimes. It means this city alone has a massive contribution to the state's crime rate.
Milwaukee's crimes per square mile are 247, while Wisconsin's is 14, and the national median is 26.5.
We can summarize that Milwaukee has an elevated crime rate compared to the state and national average, but still, it is lower than many large cities and metros.
Source: NeighborhoodScout, AreaVibes
Milwaukee Violent Crime Statistics
The violent crime rate of Milwaukee is 14.61 per 1,000 residents. It is around 400% higher than Wisconsin's violent crime rate of 2.89 and 265% higher than the national median of 4. That said, violent crimes are high in the city.
In the FBI report 2024 (reflecting 2023), 8,202 violent crimes were reported. While the total violent crimes in Wisconsin were 17,0257.
The violent crimes include:
Assault: The assault rate of the city is 10.63 per 1,000 residents, with a total of 5,968 crimes. It's around 4 times the national median of 2.64 per 1,000 residents.
Robbery: 1,625 robbery cases were reported in the year. The crime rate is 2.89 per 1,000 residents, and it's 331% higher than the national median of 0.67.
Rape: With 435 annual cases, the rape rate is 0.77 per 1,000 residents. It's around two times the national rate of 0.77.
Murder: The murder rate of Milwaukee is also high. It's 0.31 per 1,000 residents, which is around 5 times the national median of 0.06.
The chances of becoming a victim of violent crimes in Milwaukee are 1 in 68, while in Wisconsin, it is 1 in 347.
Source: NeighborhoodScout
Milwaukee Property Crime Statistics
The property crime rate of Milwaukee is 27.93 per 1,000 residents. It's 129% higher than Wisconsin's (12.17) and 47% higher than the national median (19). It indicates that the property crime rates are higher compared to the state and the country.
A total of 15,677 property crimes were reported in the FBI report 2024 (reflecting 2023). It includes:
Theft: The theft rate of the city is 13.40 per 1,000 residents. It's 0.5% lower than the national average of 13.47 per 1,000 residents.
Burglary: With 2,404 burglaries in a year, the crime rate is 4.28 per 1,000 residents. It's 70% higher than the national median of 2.51.
Motor Vehicle Theft: Motor vehicle theft is extremely high in the city. Its rate is 4.28 per 1,000 residents with a total of 5,749 reported crimes. It's 221% higher than the national rate of 3.19 per 1,000 residents. Around 57.8% of the motor vehicle reports in Wisconsin are from Milwaukee alone.
The chances of becoming a victim of property crimes are 1 in 36, which in Wisconsin is 1 in 82.
Source: NeighborhoodScout
Why Milwaukee Crime Rate is High? The Reasons Behind
Milwaukee's crime rate is high, and there are several factors that contribute to it.
Poverty: It is one of the primary reasons for the high crime rate. Crime levels are usually high in areas with socio-economic disparities. Poverty often compels individuals to get involved in crimes.
Unemployment: Many residents have lost their jobs and are facing economic instability because of the decline in manufacturing. In COVID-19, 37% of Milwaukee's labor force filed unemployment claims. It's another reason for high crime rates.
Neighborhood Disparities: Not the whole of Milwaukee experiences high crime. It is mostly the areas where people are suffering from poverty, unemployment, housing issues, low income, and lack of education. Due to these issues, some neighborhoods have become extremely unsafe.
Easy Accessibility of Weapons: Milwaukee's murder rate is 4 times higher than the national average. It is because of the easy accessibility to firearms. It often causes fatal injuries to people when they attempt to use weapons. Better policing is required to control the use of firearms.
Illegal Drug Trade: Like in every high-crime state or city, the illegal drug trade plays a major role in the crimes of Milwaukee. It often fuels violent crimes, especially homicides.
Safest Neighborhoods in Milwaukee
Some neighborhoods in Milwaukee are relatively safe, and here are the safest of them.
Northpoint
Northpoint is one of the safest neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Its total crime rate is 16.31 per 1,000 residents. It's 60.5% lower than Milwaukee's crime rate and 29% lower than the national median.
The violent crime rate is 4.12 per 1,000 residents, which is a bit higher than the national median of 4 but a lot lower than Milwaukee's violent crime rate of 14.61. The property crime rate is 12.19 per 1,000 residents.
Story Hill
Story Hill's both violent and property crime rates are lower than the national median, which is why it's safer than many neighborhoods. The violent crime rate is 3.35 per 1,000 residents, which is 16.25% lower than the national median of 4. The property crime rate is 12.94, which is around 32% lower than the national median of 19.
Cooper Park
Cooper Park is another safe neighborhood in Milwaukee with a comparatively low crime rate.
The violent crime rate is 3.81 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the national median and Milwaukee's crime rate of 14.61. The property crime rate is 12.20 per 1,000 residents. It's also lower than the national median of 19.
Washington Heights
Washington Heights' overall crime rate is 16.38 per 1,000 residents. It's 28.7% lower than the national median of 23.
The violent crime rate is 4.23 per 1,000 residents, which is a bit higher than the national median but much lower than the city's.
The property crime rate is 12.14 per 1,000 residents. It's also lower than the national median (19).
Bay View
Bay View's violent crime rate is nearly equal to the national median. It's 3.96 per 1,000 residents. However, it is way lower than the city's rate of 14.61.
The property crime rate is 20.45 per 1,000 residents. It's 7.6% higher than the national median, but nearly 27% lower than Milwaukee's.
How Residents Can Ensure Their Safety in Milwaukee?
Home and Property Security
For home and property security, Milwaukee residents should opt for security systems, security cameras, and other smart gadgets and devices.
eufy Expert Secure System E10 is a comprehensive video alarm system with expert monitoring. It secures your house or property with top-notch security cameras, an alarm system, and sensors. It keeps you updated about every activity. And if there is any suspicious movement or activity, the professional monitoring your house is ready to respond immediately.
If you are looking for a security camera system without professional monitoring, consider the eufy PoE NVR System S4 Max. It has four triple lens PoE security cameras with 8X auto-zoom. They can capture intricate details and cover 360 degrees. They automatically detect objects, track their motion, and synchronize to capture every moment.
For small homes and other purposes, check out eufy IP cameras.
Vehicle Safety
Install a GPS tracker on your vehicle. Protect it using a dashcam or car security camera. It will keep you updated about every activity happening around your camera.
When parking, ensure you park in well-lit areas. Lock the doors and keep your valuables out of sight.
Personal Safety and Awareness
Be mindful of your surroundings, wherever you are. Keep your valuable items hidden and refrain from using your smartphone. It will help you avoid pickpocketing and theft attempts. Moreover, avoid dark and dangerous areas at night. If you are alone, plan your route, share your location, and be confident.
FAQs
Is Milwaukee safer than Chicago?
The overall crime rates of both cities are almost equal. Milwaukee's crime rate is 42.54, while Chicago's is 40 per 1,000 residents. Milwaukee has a higher violent crime rate of 14.61 compared to Chicago's 5.99. However, Chicago's property crime rate is 34.01 per 1,000 residents, which is almost 18% lower than Milwaukee's rate of 27.93.
Is it safe to walk in Downtown Milwaukee?
Yes, it is safe to walk in Downtown Milwaukee even at night. It has well-lit streets and high footfall from the public. There are safe walking paths and bike trails. However, it's better to be careful because crimes are not zero.
What are some issues in Milwaukee?
Some common issues in Milwaukee are poverty, unemployment, and economic disparities. They contribute to the city's high crime rate. Many abandoned properties serve as hubs for illegal activities.
