Milwaukee, WI Crime Rate 2023: 240.6 per 100,000
Population 577K · 2023 FBI UCR Data · Safety Grade B
Milwaukee, WI has a violent crime rate of 240.6 per 100,000 residents, which is 34% below the national average of 363.8. The property crime rate is 1,580 per 100,000, 14% below the national average. Over the past 5 years, crime in Milwaukee has decreased by 10.0%.Milwaukee receives a Safety Context Score of B (75/100) based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Reading this data in context: Milwaukee's violent crime rate of 240.6 per 100,000 residents is 34% below the national average. Over the past 5 years, the overall crime rate has decreased (-10.0%). Crime data reflects reported incidents and does not capture the full picture of neighborhood safety. All crime statistics are compiled from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which aggregates data reported by local law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Crime Rate Breakdown (per 100K residents)
All rates per 100,000 residents. National average shown for comparison.
Milwaukee, WI Crime Types Explained
Below is the per-capita breakdown of each FBI-tracked offense in Milwaukee, 2023. Every figure is per 100,000 residents — never a raw count — and includes the national average for comparison.
Robbery in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 48.1 robbery incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 34% below the national robbery rate of 73 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines robbery as taking property by force or threat of force. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for robbery.
Aggravated Assault in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 144.4 aggravated assault incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 41% below the national aggravated assault rate of 246.4 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines aggravated assault as unlawful attack with intent to inflict severe bodily injury, usually involving a weapon. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for aggravated assault.
Murder in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 7.2 murder incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 26% above the national murder rate of 5.7 per 100,000 — above the national average. The FBI defines murder as intentional homicide, the most serious violent crime category. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for murder.
Burglary in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 189.6 burglary incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 30% below the national burglary rate of 269.8 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines burglary as unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for burglary.
Larceny-Theft in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 1,106 larceny-theft incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 21% below the national larceny-theft rate of 1,402 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking of property without force, threat, or fraud — the most common property crime. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for larceny-theft.
Motor Vehicle Theft in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee reported 205.5 motor vehicle theft incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is 35% below the national motor vehicle theft rate of 318.3 per 100,000 — below the national average. The FBI defines motor vehicle theft as theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. See how Milwaukee ranks nationally for motor vehicle theft.
5-Year Crime Rate Trend
Per-capita rates per 100,000 residents
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee has a Safety Context Score of B (75/100). The violent crime rate is 240.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 363.8. Over the past 5 years, overall crime has decreased (-10.0%).
Milwaukee's violent crime rate is 240.6 per 100,000 residents and property crime rate is 1,580 per 100,000. These are per-capita rates based on FBI UCR data, which provide a more accurate comparison than raw crime counts.
Milwaukee's 5-year crime trend shows a -10.0% change. Crime rates have been decreasing, which is a positive sign. Always look at long-term trends rather than single-year changes.
Milwaukee's violent crime rate of 240.6 per 100K is below the national average of 363.8. The property crime rate of 1,580 per 100K is below the national average of 1,832.
Based on 2023 FBI data, Milwaukee earns a Safety Context Score of B (75/100). With below-average crime rates, Milwaukee compares favorably to most US cities. The 5-year trend is improving, which is an important factor for anyone considering relocation. Crime statistics represent city-wide averages and vary significantly by neighborhood.
The most common crime type in Milwaukee is larceny-theft at 1,106 per 100,000 residents. Overall, property crime (1,580/100K) is significantly more common than violent crime (240.6/100K), which is typical for most US cities. Motor vehicle theft is 205.5/100K below the national average of 318.3.
Explore More
All crime rates are per 100,000 residents. Safety Context Scores are calculated using per-capita violent crime (40%), per-capita property crime (30%), and 5-year trend direction (30%), all compared to national averages.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. city and county crime rates dataset. The detail above comes directly from the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset; the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. cities and counties.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the FBI UCR/NIBRS dataset portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. cities and counties with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.