Is Tomah Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Tomah, Wisconsin, sits at the crossroads of history and culture, shaped by Native American heritage, early settlers, and unique modern-day industries.

It also sits at a literal crossroads of I-90 and I-94, but there’s so much more to this town of 10,000 people than just a rest stop.

Originally inhabited by the Ho-Chunk Nation, Tomah’s name is believed to come from Chief Thomas Carron.

Legend has it that “To-mah” is how the Ho-Chunk pronounced the name Thomas, so the phonetical spelling stuck!

The town grew as a key hub thanks to the railroads, attracting settlers who laid the foundation for today’s agricultural community.

Cranberry bogs are among Tomah’s defining features, and the region’s unique landscape has made it one of the top cranberry producers in the country.

Every fall, the fields turn a striking red as growers flood the bogs to harvest berries.

Better yet?

You can visit while this is happening!

The area also has a prominent Amish community, whose ancestors moved to the area in the mid-20th century, drawn by Wisconsin’s farmland and religious freedoms.

Today, the Amish provide an added dimension to Tomah’s character.

Plus, they offer unique handcrafted items sold in local shops.

Another personality of Tomah comes from the strong military community.

Fort McCoy is home to the Total Force Training Center, preparing all military branches for battle.

Volk Field Air National Guard Base specializes in air combat and defense training.

Finally, if you’ve ever read the comic strips in newspapers, you’ve likely already seen a slice of Tomah.

It’s a location in the comic strip Gasoline Alley.

That’s a lot to pack into one small town, eh?

Let’s explore more about safety.

Warnings & Dangers in Tomah

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in Tomah and many family-friendly things to do. You do need to understand some things about the culture and landscape here, but we'll go through those in this article.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Tomah Transit is a shared ride service, which is a pretty common form of public transportation in Wisconsin. Considering how far Tomah is from an urban area, you'll likely need a rental car to get there and get around to all the great sights to see.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The police department hasn't released pickpocket data for at least five years. However, I did go through many news headlines, and theft doesn't seem to be a problem here. The largest theft issue I've seen is shoplifting, but that just means you should take standard precautions with your wallet or purse.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Wisconsinites would call it a low risk, but if you're not familiar with "Up North" weather, a medium risk is more appropriate. That's largely because inclement weather can happen year-round. Whether it's dangerously cold weather or a blizzard in the winter, the season can be one of extremes. You don't want to get caught outside unprepared. Spring brings tornado season with severe thunderstorms, large hail, and dangerous lightning possible across the Midwest and South.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

This is another low risk, but also a data point that the police haven't released. Going off of headlines over the past five years, it doesn't seem to be an issue here. Of course, that guidance always comes with the understanding that personal safety steps need to be taken in any town.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The presence of Fort McCoy and Volk Field Air National Guard Base will push it up to medium risk, but that's almost immediately negated by the strong security the military bases give the community. It's also important to report any suspicious activity, no matter where you plan to visit.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Check local police department and sheriff’s office social media sites for the latest scams. That will help keep the risk low. Tomah doesn't have a pattern of high scam rates, and most of the incidents reported target local residents, not tourists.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should have no concerns about visiting Tomah. It's a great place for women of all ages, and even solo travelers will find plenty of things to do. With a sizable retirement community, those in their golden years will fit in well, too.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The U.S. has strict standards for tap water per the Safe Water Drinking Act. Communities are required to provide a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) once a year by July 1. Tomah's water supply source is groundwater from five wells. The 2023 report shows full compliance and no violations.

Safest Places to Visit in Tomah

It’s always reassuring for a visitor when a small town has a tourism website, and Tomah does!

The website is tomahwisconsin.com.

That site isn’t to be confused with the tomahwi.gov website, which is for the city.

However, the city’s site also has a section for visitors.

Since this is a military town, there are a lot of military discounts available at local shops.

Check the “Military Discounts” section of the tourism website.

Another great resource is the Best of Tomah list of winners, which might give insight into the most popular places to eat, stay, and visit.

Tomah’s downtown is the quintessential small-town gathering place, but be sure to consider a visit on Thursdays when Downtown Thursday Nights is underway.

Bands, food trucks, and family-friendly activities take over the streets.

The Tomah Historical Museum isn’t that big, but it’s packed with fun facts and information about the region.

That includes the cranberry history, the home of Gasoline Alley, and Indigenous people’s cultural artifacts.

You can’t come to Tomah without getting a close look at a cranberry bog.

Visit the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association to find the best spot for your itinerary.

One of the most popular is Wetherby Cranberry Co., about 15 miles from Tomah.

For planning purposes, Cranberry Blossom Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of June.

In nearby Warrens, the Warrens Cranberry Festival is held every year on the last full weekend of September.

Tomah has a significant Amish population in the area, allowing you to explore Amish shops selling handmade goods like furniture, quilts, and baked treats.

There was an Amish neighborhood near my home in Florida, and the baked goods were the most amazing I’ve ever tasted.

Just be sure to respect the culture and avoid taking photos of any Amish people.

Some of the Amish stores are in town, while others are spread throughout the countryside.

Ask locally for the best spot.

The fishing hot spot is Lake Tomah, with four boat landings around the 245-acre lake.

You can also walk the shoreline on the Tomah Recreational Trail.

If you’re into fast cars, the Tomah-Sparta Speedway has some of the best stock car racing in the state.

Places to Avoid in Tomah

Tomah is a small, tight-knit community.

One bonus of that for visitors is the lack of dangerous neighborhoods or bad parts of town.

You should know the town is almost tight-knit to a fault, some would say, as being an outsider might make locals a little distant.

It’s helpful to respect the lifestyle and climate.

For example, don’t say things like, “I don’t know how you live here when it’s this cold.”

To them, it’s just part of life, and if you don’t like it, don’t visit.

If you greet people in a friendly manner and ask supportive, informative questions, you will get to see why they call it “Midwestern Nice.”

Safety Tips for Traveling to Tomah

Even though it’s a small town of fewer than 10,000 people, Tomah does have a local police department. You can follow them on Facebook @TomahPD. You can also call (608) 374-7400 or email tomahpd@tomahwi.gov if you have safety questions.
To stay up-to-date on public safety information, sign up for the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network. You won’t get notifications about every crime in the region, but scams, missing persons, and crimes against children are among the top incidents that will be shared.
For emergency management information, you can use a Nixle account. I love Nixle because it gets the same information as the local news stations and newspapers at the same time. Plus, it included severe or winter weather information.
Most Wisconsin cities have alternate side parking in effect all or part of the year. In Tomah, it’s from November 1 through April 1. This means you can only park on the odd side of the street on odd-numbered days and the even side of the street on even-numbered days.
Outdoor activities like fishing and hunting require a license from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A fishing permit is rather easy to get, but a hunting license might require safety training. Review the DNR website before banking on doing those activities and buying the appropriate license. Carry them with you at all times while doing the licensed activity.
Even if you aren’t a hunter, it helps to know when the hunting seasons begin and end. Wearing hunter orange while hiking on hunting lands is imperative for safety, and that goes for pets, too.
Use the 511 WI website or app to check road conditions across the region. You’ll get weather reports, real-time traffic, live cameras, and construction information.
Fort McCoy has a strict list of requirements for visitors to get on base. You should review the ID requirements if you’re planning to visit someone there. If you don’t have a reason to be on the base, don’t expect to get access. Stay off all military property.
If you’re getting a rental car in winter, you should know that the cold weather here can quickly drain batteries. Plus, tires with less-than-ideal tread and could leave you stuck in a snowbank. Talk with the rental company before your visit to ensure you’re prepared for all emergencies. Ask if things like ice scrapers and snow brooms are included with the rental car or if you need to purchase those on your own.
When driving on rural roads, always be on the lookout for potential wildlife ready to leap across the street. Deer can move quickly and cause a lot of damage and severe injuries if a driver isn’t paying attention. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has a great list of safety tips on its website.

So... How Safe Is Tomah Really?

From all angles, it appears the Tomah Police Department is one of the law enforcement agencies that isn’t reporting crime data as of 2021.

That’s when the FBI changed from the Uniform Crime Reporting format to the National Incident-Based Reporting System.

Combined with the pandemic staffing and health issues, many agencies didn’t have the resources to transition and the reports aren’t required.

While I don’t normally like to look at pre-pandemic crime rates since so much changed during 2020 and beyond, I want to give you some insight, so here we go.

Between 2015 and 2021, the city saw fewer than 15 violent crimes a year on average, with just three years at that number or higher.

Even at its highest, the violent crime rate never got more than 27% below the state average and 42% lower than the national average.

The city saw less than 30 robberies a year between 2015 and 2021, with one-third of those reported as shoplifting.

The police department does issue an annual report, which I thought might provide some more recent insight.

However, of all the statistics released, exact crime data wasn’t included.

You can also review the department’s Facebook page, which lists monthly calls for service.

It’s not much, but it’s some degree of transparency.

While I don’t think there’s any reason to be concerned about a sudden uptick in dangerous crime against strangers in Tomah, visitors should use the standard precautions as you would in every new city they’re visiting.

Again, the biggest safety challenge here will be the weather.

It’s up to you how much of a risk that is and how much you stay informed and prepare for the worst, but hope for the best!

How Does Tomah Compare?

City	Safety Index
Tomah	83
Las Vegas	62
San Francisco	61
Philadelphia	60
Houston	59
Atlanta	58
St. Louis	58
Brussels (Belgium)	60
Shanghai (China)	66
Belize City (Belize)	37
La Paz (Bolivia)	52
Sao Paulo (Brazil)	45
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)	43

Useful Information

Visas

All international visitors need either a visa defining the purpose of the trip (tourist, work, school, etc.) or a visa waiver. Start the process using the Visa Wizard module on the U.S. State Department website. You can also download the CBP One mobile app for help on the go. Also, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your trip, or you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar (USD) is accepted in the United States. International airports usually have a currency exchange desk on site, while regional airports won’t. Your home bank offers the lowest fees. For those using credit cards, check to see if there’s a foreign transaction fee. Credit cards, not debit cards, offer the best fraud protection.

Weather

Tomah experiences a full range of seasons. Winters are (extremely) cold, with snowfall averaging around 40 inches, ideal for snowshoeing and skiing. Bundle up with layers and a waterproof outer layer. The spring thaw can still be chilly, with warmer temperatures bringing a greater chance of rain and storms. Summers are warm and humid. You'll need bug spray and mosquito netting. The switch to autumn brings great foliage but also freezing temperatures earlier than you might expect.

Airports

The closest commercial airports to Tomah, Wisconsin, include La Crosse Regional Airport (50 miles west), offering daily flights to major hubs, and Dane County Regional Airport in Madison (90 miles southeast), with a broader range of connections. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, about 150 miles away, offers the most extensive options.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance protects the cost of baggage loss/theft, delays, cancelations, and emergency health issues. Rental car insurance should include roadside assistance and uninsured motorist coverage. Comprehensive insurance offers the best peace of mind.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Tomah Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan -8° C

Feb -7° C

Mar 1° C

Apr 8° C

May 14° C

Jun 20° C

Jul 22° C

Aug 21° C

Sep 16° C

Oct 9° C

Nov 3° C

Dec -4° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	-3	-1	7	14	21	26	28	27	23	15	8	1
Low °C	-13	-13	-5	1	7	13	15	14	9	2	-3	-9
High °F	27	30	45	57	70	79	82	81	73	59	46	34
Low °F	9	9	23	34	45	55	59	57	48	36	27	16

Wisconsin - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Appleton	83
Baraboo	82
Beloit	60
Eau Claire	77
Fond du Lac	64
Fort Atkinson	86
Green Bay	81
Janesville	81
Kenosha	74
Lake Geneva	82
Madison	77
Milwaukee	34
Oshkosh	83
Platteville	85
Prairie du Chien	80
Racine	70
Sheboygan	80
Sun Prairie	84
Superior	82
Tomah	83
Waukesha	83
Wausau	68
Whitewater	85
Wisconsin Dells	85

Is Tomah Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Wisconsin : Safety by City