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Wisconsin’s 20 Safest Cities of 2022

By John Carlsen

Staff Writer, Security & Smart Home

March 08, 2022

The SafeWise Team is pleased to release the eighth annual Safest Cities report.

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in Wisconsin for 2022

Oconomowoc
Evansville
Grand Rapids
Town of Geneva
Town of Mukwonago
Cottage Grove
Hartland
Fox Valley Metro
Kronenwetter
Sheboygan Falls

See if your city made the full list.

Wisconsinites don’t spend a lot of time worrying about crime and safety. The Badger State boasts lower crime rates than the national average, and its safest cities enjoy some of the lowest reported crime numbers in the country.

In this report

Violent crime rates
Property crime rates
Interesting findings
The Safest Cities
Methodology
How to make a safe home anywhere
How other cities compare
How other states compare

2022 Wisconsin crime rates

Crime rates in Wisconsin rose this year after declining in previous years. It was one of only nine states to see an increase in both violent and property crime rates. The state's violent crime rate climbed up from 3.0 incidents per 1,000 people last year to 3.2—a 9% increase. Wisconsin's property crime rate increased by only 1% from 14.7 incidents per 1,000 people to 14.9.

Within the East North Central region, Wisconsin has some of the lowest crime rates. The Badger State has the second-lowest violent crime rate behind Ohio (3.1) and the second-lowest property crime rate behind Michigan (13.6).

Wisconsin comes in lower than national crime rates for both violent and property crimes. Among all 50 states, Wisconsin has the fifteenth-lowest violent crime rate and the eleventh-lowest property crime rate.

Bar chart of violent and property crime rates per 1,000 people where the national average is 4.0 violent crimes per 1,000 people and 19.6 property crimes per 1,000 people.

Image: SafeWise

Level of concern and experience with crime in Wisconsin

Wisconsin matches the national average when it comes to daily concern about crime and safety, but when it comes to specific crime issues, Wisconsin is less concerned about every issue except gun violence.

Even though Wisconsin is on par with the national level of daily concern (47%), the state saw a year-over-year jump of 15%—from 41% to 47%. And fewer Wisconsin State of Safety survey respondents say they feel safe in their state (48% compared to 55% nationwide). Surprisingly, this climb in concern coincides with lower crime rates and fewer reports of personal experiences with crime.

Violent crime experiences are four percentage points ahead of the national average but four points behind what the state reported last survey year. There was a 10-point dip in property crime experiences this year, putting Wisconsin just under the national reporting average of 18%.

Pictogram showing the percentage of state residents that are concerned about their safety on a daily basis, as well as which type of crime they are concerned about the most, and which crimes they have experienced within the past 12 months. Crimes include violent crime, property crime, package theft and gun violence.

Image: SafeWise. Past 12 months=12 months prior to survey.

Crime concerns in Wisconsin

We asked Wisconsin residents which crimes they worry may happen to them. See if Wisconsinites are concerned about the same crime issues as the rest of the country.

Bar chart showing percentages of how concerned state residents are about crime compared to the national averages for violent crime, property crime, package theft and gun violence.

Image: SafeWise

View the complete 2022 State of Safety report.

Violent crime in Wisconsin: Fear vs. reality

Violent crime increased for the first time in two years, returning to 2019 levels. Still, only 35% of Wisconsin survey respondents say they’re worried about falling victim to a violent crime.

Wisconsin's violent crime rate rose 9% year over year.
Aggravated assault is the most common violent crime in America (US 70%) and in Wisconsin (71%), but it makes up a smaller share in the safest cities at 63%.
Statewide, rape accounts for 11% of all violent crimes, which is close to national levels (US 10%). It's more common in the safest cities at 32%.
Wisconsin's overall murder rate is on par with national levels, both at 2% of all violent crimes. The state’s 20 safest cities reported 0 murders this year.
18 of the safest cities—and 59 cities statewide—boast violent crime rates of 1 incident per 1,000 people or less.
22% use a personal safety device like a stun gun or pepper spray (US 34%).
48% say their personal safety has been affected by the pandemic (US 44%).

Attitudes about gun violence in Wisconsin

39% of survey respondents worry most about a gun violence incident happening to them (US 38%).
50% named gun violence their top safety concern (US 53%).
Wisconsin had 11 mass shooting incidents in 2021—up from 10 in 2020.
37% of residents worry about police violence daily (US 40%), and 58% have confidence in law enforcement (US 56%).

Line graph of violent and property crime rates over the past three years in the state compared to national crime rates per 1,000 residents for violent crime, property crime, package theft and gun violence.

Image: SafeWise

Property crime in Wisconsin: Fear vs. reality

Property crime in Wisconsin ended a seven-year decline this year—rising 1% over last year. And even though property crime is the most-concerning crime issue, Wisconsinites’ level of concern is one percentage point lower than the national average of 42%.

Wisconsin’s property crime rate (14.9) is 24% below the national rate of 19.6 incidents per 1,000 people.
None of the safest cities reported a property crime rate higher than 7.3 incidents per 1,000.
Fewer property crimes were reported overall by the safest cities, but burglaries showed a surprising increase compared to last year’s safest cities.
Burglaries are less common in Wisconsin, making up 15% of all property crime compared to 16% nationwide. It's more prevalent in the safest cities at 21%.
As with every state, larceny-theft is the most prevalent property crime in Wisconsin, making up 74% of all property crime (US 71%).
19% reported a package theft in the survey year, just 1 percentage point behind the national average of 20%.
50% of survey respondents use some form of property protection (US 60%), with security cameras leading the way at 24%.
28% say the security of their property has been affected by the pandemic (US 29%).

A closer look at the safest cities in Wisconsin

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

146 cities met criteria to be considered for ranking.
Oconomowoc jumped up 2 spots to land at number 1—it reported only 1 violent crime and just 11 property crimes this year.
Evansville (ranked 2) is new to the list this year.
Milton (19) and Town of Delavan (12) saw the biggest improvements in rankings this year, moving up 69 and 63 spots, respectively. Both Fox Valley Metro (8) and Waunakee (17) leaped over 45 spots to land in the top 20.
Fox Valley Metro (population 22,737) is the largest city on our list and the only one with more than 17,000 residents—the average population of Wisconsin's safest cities is 9,133 people.
The violent crime rate in the safest cities is 0.5 incidents per 1,000 people, less than a sixth of the state rate (3.2).
Wisconsin is one of few states to report 0 murders in its safest cities.
Evansville and Grand Rapids have the lowest violent crime rates in the state, with each reporting 0 incidents this year.
90% of the safest cities reported 10 or fewer total violent crimes this year—none reported more than 16.
The property crime rate in the safest cities is 4.0 incidents per 1,000 people, just over a quarter of the state rate (14.9).
Oconomowoc and Town of Mukwonago had the lowest property crime rates in The Badger State at 1.3 incidents per 1,000 people.
19 of the safest cities reported fewer than 100 total property crimes.

Map of state with markers and labels highlighting the cities with the lowest crime rates.

Image: SafeWise

The 20 safest cities in Wisconsin

Oconomowoc

(

)

Population

8,743
Median Income

$106,663
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.1, 0.3, 0.1
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

1.3, 1.9, 1.2
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Evansville

(

New

)

Population

5,489
Median Income

$70,828
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.0, N/A, N/A
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

2.2, N/A, N/A
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Grand Rapids

(

)

Population

7,393
Median Income

$77,633
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.0, 0.4, 0.3
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

2.4, 3.0, 6.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Town of Geneva

(

)

Population

5,045
Median Income

$80,065
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.2, 0.4, 0.0
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

2.0, 3.8, 4.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Mukwonago

(

)

Population

8,168
Median Income

$111,250
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.5, 0.6, 0.4
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

1.3, 0.6, 0.9
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Cottage Grove

(

)

Population

7,233
Median Income

$93,550
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.1, 0.4, 0.9
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

3.7, 3.1, 3.0
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Hartland

(

+38

)

Population

9,343
Median Income

$90,968
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.2, 1.0, 0.3
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

3.7, 4.9, 6.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Fox Valley Metro

(

+48

)

Population

22,737
Median Income

Unavailable
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.7, 1.1, 0.7
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

2.6, 3.9, 3.7
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Kronenwetter

(

+23

)

Population

8,181
Median Income

$84,435
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.6, 0.9, 1.3
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

3.7, 4.9, 4.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#10

Sheboygan Falls

(

)

Population

7,938
Median Income

$57,552
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.4, 0.4, 0.3
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

4.8, 7.4, 9.7
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#11

Sturtevant

(

+16

)

Population

6,659
Median Income

$65,718
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.8, 0.8, 0.4
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

3.6, 4.8, 6.0
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#12

Town of Delavan

(

+63

)

Population

5,337
Median Income

$62,457
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.6, 1.5, 0.2
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

4.5, 4.1, 7.0
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#13

Oregon

(

+15

)

Population

10,718
Median Income

$83,885
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.7, 0.7, 0.4
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

4.4, 5.0, 9.2
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#14

McFarland

(

)

Population

9,161
Median Income

$92,944
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.7, 0.6, 1.1
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

5.5, 5.8, 9.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#15

Waupun

(

-10

)

Population

11,184
Median Income

$56,587
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

1.2, 0.3, 1.1
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

3.8, 5.5, 8.2
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#16

Hobart-Lawrence

(

-4

)

Population

16,178
Median Income

$86,481
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.4, 0.5, N/A
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

6.4, 2.8, N/A
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#17

Waunakee

(

+46

)

Population

14,280
Median Income

$112,845
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.7, 1.1, 1.4
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

5.3, 9.5, 6.6
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#18

Mount Horeb

(

+15

)

Population

7,579
Median Income

$79,900
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

1.3, 0.9, 1.1
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

4.0, 3.1, 9.5
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#19

Milton

(

+69

)

Population

5,636
Median Income

$67,523
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.5, 1.4, N/A
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

6.6, 12.3, N/A
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

#20

Edgerton

(

-11

)

Population

5,655
Median Income

$65,641
VC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

0.4, 0.2, N/A
PC Rate 2022, 2021, 2020

7.3, 9.9, N/A
VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Whether your city made our list or not, we encourage everyone to be proactive about home security. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens is to add a home security system.

Get a home security system

Find out which companies we recommend for every budget and lifestyle in our roundup of the Best Home Security Systems—and learn the basics with our guide on Everything You Need to Know About Home Security.

Find security and safety resources in your area

Didn't find your city in the top 20?

We calculated crime rates for every city in the state that met our population threshold, based on the state’s median population. See how the remaining cities ranked in the list below.

NOTE: If you don’t see your city on the list, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2020.

2022 Rank	City	Population	2022 VC per 1,000	2022 PC per 1,000	2021 Rank
21	Cedarburg	11,621	0.6	6.8	4
22	Fox Crossing	19,099	0.7	6.6	72
23	Caledonia	25,323	0.8	6.6	30
24	Muskego	25,237	0.3	8.3	2
25	Sturgeon Bay	8,913	0.7	7.3	22
26	Slinger	5,621	0.4	8.4	60
27	Plymouth	8,762	0.5	8.1	35
28	Port Washington	11,982	0.8	7.2	120
29	Bloomfield	6,363	0.9	6.9	81
30	Mequon	24,527	0.5	8.4	25
31	De Pere	25,090	1.1	6.5	41
32	Summit	5,087	1.6	5.1	126
33	Oconomowoc	17,116	0.7	7.9	31
34	Kaukauna	16,357	1.4	5.7	40
35	Holmen	10,135	0.7	8.1	51
36	Lake Mills	6,013	2.7	1.8	80
37	Richland Center	4,918	1.2	6.7	117
38	Mayville	4,862	1.4	7.0	93
39	Rothschild	5,268	0.8	9.3	76
40	Minocqua	4,422	1.4	7.7	112
41	Verona	13,548	0.9	9.2	86
42	West Salem	5,037	2.0	6.2	54
43	Middleton	20,322	0.6	10.8	38
44	Whitefish Bay	13,734	0.4	11.6	10
45	Mukwonago	8,137	1.0	9.8	20
46	Sauk Prairie	4,650	0.9	10.3	49
47	North Fond du Lac	5,089	1.0	10.2	70
48	Waterford Town	6,526	0.2	12.9	1
49	New London	7,070	1.3	9.5	71
50	Chippewa Falls	14,437	1.5	8.7	145
51	Waukesha	72,421	1.7	8.2	57
52	New Berlin	39,703	0.7	11.5	26
53	Fox Point	6,522	0.2	13.3	21
54	Stevens Point	25,790	1.3	9.8	114
55	Watertown	23,437	2.2	7.7	111
56	Saukville	4,431	0.2	14.2	18
57	Grafton	11,738	0.3	14.3	43
58	Ripon	7,854	1.9	9.3	105
59	Elkhorn	10,014	1.7	10.0	67
60	Reedsburg	9,549	0.9	12.6	46
61	Hartford	15,573	1.1	12.1	48
62	Twin Lakes	6,230	3.5	4.5	129
63	Greendale	14,141	1.4	11.4	61
64	Burlington	11,025	1.5	11.2	23
65	Beaver Dam	16,426	1.2	12.5	103
66	Two Rivers	10,970	2.3	9.0	127
67	St. Francis	9,733	0.8	14.1	89
68	Deforest	10,901	1.0	13.6	55
69	Monroe	10,538	0.2	16.4	39
70	Cudahy	18,064	1.9	11.1	91
71	Stoughton	13,164	1.3	13.1	124
72	Berlin	5,369	0.7	14.9	15
73	River Falls	16,141	0.8	14.7	50
74	Lake Hallie	6,777	2.1	10.8	119
75	South Milwaukee	20,626	1.1	13.9	92
76	Sun Prairie	35,272	0.7	15.3	65
77	Whitewater	14,952	2.5	9.8	113
78	Hales Corners	7,548	0.8	15.5	53
79	Delafield	7,586	0.1	18.1	34
80	New Richmond	9,535	1.5	13.9	125
81	Neenah	26,390	2.2	11.9	98
82	Fort Atkinson	12,425	1.7	13.7	116
83	Menasha	17,910	2.3	11.8	131
84	Brookfield	39,252	0.8	16.6	64
85	Pewaukee Village	8,102	0.5	17.6	44
86	Lake Geneva	8,157	1.2	15.3	82
87	Pleasant Prairie	21,181	1.6	14.5	62
88	Beloit Town	7,741	1.7	14.2	66
89	Merrill	8,984	1.3	15.9	106
90	Elm Grove	6,160	0.3	19.2	29
91	Rhinelander	7,629	2.0	14.3	109
92	Everest Metropolitan	17,361	3.2	10.3	158
93	Franklin	35,814	0.8	18.1	58
94	Jefferson	7,986	1.5	16.3	78
95	Sparta	9,865	4.1	8.2	87
96	Dodgeville	4,679	1.1	17.7	97
97	Brookfield Township	6,564	2.0	15.4	68
98	Viroqua	4,407	0.5	20.9	47
99	Ashwaubenon	17,183	2.0	16.1	104
100	Shorewood	13,133	1.2	19.6	95
101	Delavan	9,836	1.4	19.1	115
102	Mount Pleasant	27,125	1.8	18.1	101
103	Columbus	5,134	0.8	21.4	108
104	Appleton	74,255	2.7	15.6	133
105	West Bend	31,603	2.5	16.2	121
106	Plover	13,201	2.1	17.9	94
107	Oak Creek	36,502	1.3	20.5	84
108	Prairie du Chien	5,539	0.9	22.4	52
109	Fitchburg	31,483	2.6	17.2	138
110	Clintonville	4,372	2.3	18.5	N/A
111	Marshfield	18,403	1.8	20.4	102
112	Marinette	10,497	2.5	18.8	77
113	Tomah	9,418	2.0	20.4	136
114	Kenosha	100,005	3.9	14.4	139
115	Wauwatosa	48,265	1.4	22.6	99
116	Oshkosh	67,080	2.8	18.5	135
117	Sheboygan	47,814	3.3	17.4	148
118	Waupaca	5,953	2.5	20.2	96
119	Janesville	64,682	2.2	21.5	132
120	Wausau	38,492	4.5	14.5	154
121	Germantown	20,133	0.6	27.5	73
122	Oconto	4,548	5.5	12.5	140
123	Fond du Lac	43,295	3.1	20.3	143
124	Greenfield	37,237	1.5	25.7	118
125	Town of Madison	6,920	3.9	18.6	130
126	Altoona	8,009	2.4	23.8	74
127	Hudson	14,255	2.7	23.1	110
128	Green Bay	104,649	5.3	15.3	160
129	Shawano	8,896	2.1	25.3	N/A
130	Menomonie	16,582	4.5	18.1	123
131	Wisconsin Rapids	17,524	1.7	28.7	122
132	Racine	76,573	5.4	18.0	149
133	Platteville	12,184	2.2	29.0	107
134	Eau Claire	69,086	2.8	27.9	137
135	Madison	262,736	3.2	27.8	153
136	West Allis	59,778	3.2	28.7	156
137	Rice Lake	8,526	4.8	24.6	142
138	Onalaska	19,072	1.0	37.5	69
139	Grand Chute	23,579	2.2	34.7	147
140	Beloit	36,921	4.8	29.0	159
141	Superior	25,845	1.9	39.1	151
142	Glendale	12,714	1.9	41.6	152
143	Brown Deer	11,808	4.0	37.6	157
144	La Crosse	51,211	2.6	43.7	141
145	Monona	8,245	1.2	52.0	146
146	Milwaukee	589,105	16.0	27.3	161