The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Waukesha County, WI: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Waukesha County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Waukesha County.

 

Waukesha County, WI Map of Crime Rates
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A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
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A

Overall Crime Grade™

A+
A
Other Crime Grade
B+

$126.4 million

Cost of Crime™ for Waukesha County, WI

In 2025, crime will cost $757 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Waukesha County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Waukesha County, WI Safe?

The A grade indicates that the rate of crime is much lower than that of the average US county. Waukesha County ranks in the 89th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 89% of counties but less safe than 11%. This analysis applies only to Waukesha County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Waukesha County is 18.42 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Waukesha County Residents generally consider the north part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Waukesha County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 39 in the east areas to 1 in 78 in the north.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Waukesha County, WI see the most incidents - about 1,510 per year. In contrast, the west part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 404 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Waukesha County, WI

The total projected cost of crime in Waukesha County for 2025 is $126,383,617. This translates to approximately $303 per resident and $757 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.5% of the median household income in Waukesha County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.1%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.4%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.5%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Waukesha County Compared to Other Counties?

Waukesha County, WI: $303
Milwaukee County, WI: $661
Washington County, WI: $234
Wisconsin: $419
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Waukesha County is $303 per year, which is $161 less than the national average and $116 less than Wisconsin's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Waukesha County:
  • In Milwaukee County, WI, crime costs $661 per person, which is $357 more than in Waukesha County.
  • In Washington County, WI, crime costs $234 per person, which is $69 less than in Waukesha County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Waukesha County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Waukesha County
Cost per Waukesha County Resident
Murder
$42.1 million
$101
Rape/Sexual Assault
$17.8 million
$43
Robbery
$3.28 million
$8
Assault
$10.7 million
$26
Kidnapping
$2.29 million
$5
Vehicle Theft
$9.19 million
$22
Burglary
$3.61 million
$9
Theft
$14.5 million
$35
Arson
$813,947
$2
Vandalism
$8.11 million
$19
Animal Cruelty
$111,680
$0
Drug Crimes
$12.4 million
$30
Identity Theft
$1.56 million
$4
Total Cost of Crime
$126,383,617
$303

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Waukesha County, WI

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Waukesha County totals $368,155,297 ($883 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $494,538,914 ($1,187 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Waukesha County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the east part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Waukesha County has 81, have the same problem. Of Waukesha County’s 416,755 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Waukesha County, WI at ISP Reports.

Waukesha County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Waukesha County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
0.8931
Robbery
0.2499
Rape
0.7043
Murder
0.0537
Total Violent Crime
1.901 (A+)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
6.709
Vehicle Theft
1.424
Burglary
0.9545
Arson
0.0809
Total Property Crime
9.169 (A)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0907
Drug Crimes
4.016
Vandalism
2.722
Identity Theft
0.4844
Animal Cruelty
0.0362
Total "Other" Rate
7.350 (B+)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Waukesha County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Waukesha County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
D+
D-
D+
A+
A+
A+
A
A+
A
B-
C+
B-
A
A
A
A
A
A+
C+
B-
B-
A-
A
A
B-
B
B
C+
B+
C+

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Waukesha County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A-
A+
A+
C-
C-
C-
B
D
D
B-
A+
A+
B
C-
C-
B-
B
B
D-
D-
D-
A+
B+
B+
F
D
D
D-
D
D

Considering only the crime rate, Waukesha County is safer than the Wisconsin state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Waukesha County, WI average SchoolGrade of B+, with 52% actual proficiency versus 54% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Waukesha County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 1 hour 8 minutes in Waukesha County. Want to protect your home?

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.