I did not realize how naive I was until I found out that the city of Green Bay did not even make the top 10 safest cities in Wisconsin.
It is safer than Milwaukee, however.
You also must remember that Wisconsin only has four cities with 99,000 or more people in it.
So, what are the safest places to live here?
Contents
10 Safest Cities in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s 10 safest cities include smaller communities joined as a suburb of a large city or are rural towns.
This WI “safest cities list” is based on the total crime rate per 100,000 (100K) or fewer people as reported in 2022.
None of the nine safest WI cities that ranked on the top 100 U.S. “safest places” are in the top 10 for WI, by the way.
1. Evansville
Violent crime for Evansville ranks 100% below the national average, and property crime occurs about 89% less than in the rest of the U.S.
The total crime rate for this location averages about 91% less than for the rest of the country.
The overall quality of life here ranks above average, and the only below-average feature in this place is the schools.
Approximately 5,176 people live in Evansville.
2. Cottage Grove
If safety is a small price to pay for you, this second safest city might cost you 13% more to live in than in the rest of the U.S.
It also apparently does not have many decent amenities and has some poor user ratings.
However, it does have halfway decent housing and a fair amount of employment opportunities.
Cottage Grove has an overall crime rate measuring 83% lower than the rest of the nation.
Violent crime here only totals about 4%, and property crime only measures at 19%, which equates to 96% and 81% less than every other U.S. location.
About 6,729 people live in Cottage Grove.
3. Hartland
Of this city of 9,195 people, only two violent crimes and zero murders occurred in this location per 100K as of 2020.
Property crimes happen the most often here.
However, the rate for this type of offense still comes in at 81% lower than the rest of the country.
In contrast to other places in the U.S., its violence rating totals 94% less.
The total crime rate is 83% lower than the national average.
The one criterion that most hurts this area’s livability score, which currently ranks at “84,” is the high price of housing, which is 30% above the rest of the country.
For some people, that may seem like a small price to pay for safety, which can be expensive in Hartland.
Its cost of living is also 6% above the rest of the nation.
4. Sheboygan Falls
This city has an estimated population of 7,792 and a violent crime rating of 90% less than the rest of the U.S.
Its property crime rating equals 76% lower than the national average, and the overall crime ranking is 78% below everywhere else in the nation.
The only poor rating this area receives for overall livability is the housing, but the cost of living seems at least bearable.
There are also at least some work opportunities.
Its available amenities seem to attract people here aside from it being the fourth safest WI city.
5. Kronenwetter
I never even heard of this place, and I live in WI.
Anyway, it has a resident population of 7,463 and a crime rating that ranks 82% below the national average.
Violent crimes come in at 84% fewer, and property crimes total 81% fewer than the rest of the U.S.
Kronenwetter had zero murders reported in 2020 but two vehicle thefts and 30 property crimes per 100K people.
Everything about this place seems to make it an excellent location to live except for its schools, by the way.
6. Oregon
It has a crime average that ranks 79% below any other U.S. location.
Its violent crime rates are about 83% less than the rest of the country.
The property crime rate is 78% lower than the national average.
Besides safety, you might choose Oregon because of its above-average employment, housing, and school ratings.
However, the cost of living here totals 8% more than the national average, and housing costs are 11% above the rest of the country.
7. Hobart
Only 16-20 minutes from “Packer Country,” you might choose Hobart if you want to be near Green Bay but not in it.
I’ve been through here and visited here more times than I could count, and it does have many peaceful places to live.
Hobart’s violent crime ranks 90% less than the rest of the nation.
On the other hand, you might have to “get creative” with finding things to do. Its “amenities” score is terrible.
For some reason, quite a few property crimes occur here.
This tarnishes what otherwise could have been a perfect total crime score, which ranks 71% below the national average.
A total of 103 property crimes occurred here per 100K as of 2020, with vehicle crimes totaling 39 per 100K by this same year.
Still, it does rank 87% safer than other U.S. cities.
It has 7,779 people living there.
8. Sturtevant
This place has a decent safety rating, with its total crime rank measuring 81% less than the rest of America.
Its property crime rating also comes in at about 15% lower than Hobart, WI.
I’d probably choose Sturtevant if I were to want to live near Milwaukee, a city I like that’s only 36 minutes’ driving distance from it.
The only poor rating this location received overall is for the schools.
Theft and property crimes are usually the hugest dangers in Sturtevant–not murder or assaults and sensitive crimes.
You still have to use caution because some violence does sometimes occur in this location of 6,961 people.
9. Edgerton
You can drive from here to Madison in about 40-45 minutes, and Edgerton houses about 5,494 people.
With a violent crime rating of 91% lower than the rest of the country, it is a safe way to be near a big city without actually being in it.
It does have higher property crime rates than some other locations, so its overall crime score drops to only 68% lower than the rest of the U.S.
About 38 thefts and 41 property crimes per 100K people reportedly occurred here as of 2020.
10. McFarland
This city has 8,168 people living in it, and you could drive to Madison from McFarland in about 16 minutes.
Its violent crime rating of 83% below the national average ranks significantly lower than Madison’s, which is also 17% less than the rest of the country.
McFarland’s cost of living is high, however, and apparently, the schools have a poor rating.
It has had 36 thefts and 50 property crimes per 100K reported in 2020.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling to Wisconsin
1. Keep your belongings secure (or at home).
Take a few of your most precious belongings with you when you come to Wisconsin as possible.
It could prevent theft, especially if you do not live here yet and don’t know which neighborhoods are the safest.
Otherwise, keep your items hidden at all times unless using them.
2. Bring extra clothes and emergency supplies.
You never know where you will stall if driving here and your vehicle dies.
If it is in a rural town on the side of the road, you might need blankets, coats, or other warm clothing if it’s winter.
In the summer, make sure you have a cooler with ice in it or some portable fans.
3. Inspect your vehicle.
If you plan to drive to WI, make sure you confirm that you have all your headlights, turn signals, or brake lights.
What’s more, it helps to have decent tires if you have to drive to the state when it is raining or snowing and has ice on the road.
4. Watch for severe weather warnings.
Do not come to Wisconsin if you see a tornado warning near where you plan to arrive.
It is also sometimes hard to drive on county roads that don’t have streetlights during heavy downpours or snowstorms.
Make sure you what you are getting yourself into before you decide to come here.
5. Pay attention to other drivers—and animals!
I have heard people complain about WI drivers.
They do not all use turn signals and may cut you off in traffic, even in Madison or Milwaukee, and Green Bay.
Watch both sides of the road for animals, such as deer, ducks, dogs, or cats.
Sources
- https://realestate.usnews.com/places/wisconsin/green-bay
- https://www.wisconsin-demographics.com/cities_by_population
- https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/wisconsin-has-nine-of-americas-top-100-safest-cities/
Wisconsin Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Wisconsin Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most dangerous thing about Wisconsin?
You might have more incidences of violence in Wisconsin in cities with 100,000 or more people.
However, you also have to watch out for driving in a blizzard, and do not forget to check for deer crossing the road.
What is the safest large city in Wisconsin?
If you count cities of more than 100,000 people, Madison will rank first, Green Bay would be second, and Milwaukee would be last.
However, Kenosha has almost 100,000 people in it, so I counted it in my rankings.
Kenosha has a higher safety index than the other three largest cities in WI.
Note, however, that Green Bay does rank 22 of 150 metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 people in them as the safest U.S. places to live.
How does Wisconsin as a state rank for safety?
In 2022, Wisconsin as a whole state did rank number 15 based on personal safety, and nine of its cities made the United States 100 safest cities list based on their total crime scores.
However, the top 10 safest cities list for WI does not include any of this state’s places that made the 2022 U.S. top 100 safest cities list.
By the way, most data for this report came from 2019 to 2022.
I’ve always been curious about Wisconsin, and this list of the safest cities is insightful! Knowing that places like Madison and Brookfield prioritize safety makes me even more excited to plan a trip there.
As someone who loves exploring new destinations, safety is always a top concern. This compilation of the safest cities in Wisconsin is fantastic! Racine and Janesville seem like wonderful places to experience the state’s culture and history while feeling secure.