Beloit, WI Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Beloit, WI

What is Beloit's overall crime grade?

Beloit, WI earns an overall crime grade of C based on aggregated crime data for 2026. This grade places it in the middle tier among Wisconsin cities — not among the safest, but not among the most dangerous either. The C grade reflects a combination of property crime activity and some violent crime, shaped in part by economic conditions including a 7.7% unemployment rate and a 19.5% poverty rate. For context, cities with stronger economic indicators tend to score in the B or A range, while those with more concentrated disadvantage often fall to D or F. Beloit sits at the midpoint, meaning residents in lower-crime neighborhoods experience conditions closer to a B, while higher-activity corridors pull the citywide average down.

How does Beloit's crime rate compare statistically?

With a population of approximately 36,804 and a population density of 819 residents per square mile, Beloit's crime burden is spread across a moderately dense urban footprint. The city's median household income of $46,989 — below the Wisconsin state median — and a poverty rate of 19.5% are two of the strongest statistical predictors of elevated crime risk. Research consistently shows that cities where more than 15% of residents live below the poverty line face heightened property crime exposure. Beloit's numbers place it in that elevated-risk category, which is reflected in the C overall grade. Property crimes such as theft and burglary account for the largest share of reported incidents, while violent crimes represent a smaller but meaningful portion of the total crime picture.

Which neighborhoods in Beloit tend to have higher or lower crime activity?

Crime in Beloit is not evenly distributed. Areas near the Beloit College campus and the residential zones surrounding Riverside Park tend to see lower incident rates, benefiting from active community presence, higher foot traffic during daylight hours, and engaged neighborhood associations. Conversely, some corridors closer to the city's older industrial districts experience higher concentrations of property crime and occasional violent incidents. The Downtown Beloit area shows a mixed profile — commercial activity brings both foot traffic and opportunistic theft. Using the interactive crime map on this page, you can filter by crime type and time period to see exactly which blocks have the highest incident density, giving you a granular view that a single letter grade cannot capture.

What types of crime are most common in Beloit?

Property crime dominates Beloit's incident reports, consistent with the national pattern for mid-sized cities with elevated poverty rates. Theft — including shoplifting and vehicle break-ins — represents the most frequently reported category. Burglary and motor vehicle theft follow, with clusters visible in specific residential pockets on the crime map. Violent crimes, including assault and robbery, occur at lower rates but are concentrated in a handful of high-activity zones rather than spread evenly across the city. Substance-related offenses also appear in the data and are often correlated with both property crime and certain violent incidents. Understanding this breakdown matters: a city's overall C grade can mask the fact that the majority of Beloit's neighborhoods experience primarily low-level property crime, not the violent incidents that tend to dominate headlines.

Is Beloit a good place to live given its crime grade?

A C crime grade does not make Beloit a poor place to live — it signals that informed decision-making matters. The city offers genuinely affordable housing, with a median home value of just $97,381 and a median rent of $825, making it one of the more accessible housing markets in southern Wisconsin. A median household income of $46,989 means many families can achieve homeownership here that would be out of reach in higher-cost metros. The tradeoff is a crime environment that requires reasonable precautions — securing property, staying aware of neighborhood-level patterns, and engaging with community safety programs. Residents near the Beloit College area and Riverside Park corridors effectively live in a B-grade environment. Those considering a move should use this crime map to evaluate specific blocks rather than relying solely on the citywide C average, since that single grade encompasses significant variation across Beloit's neighborhoods.

What steps is Beloit taking to improve its safety grade?

Beloit's law enforcement and community organizations have pursued several initiatives aimed at pushing the city's grade upward. Neighborhood watch programs active in residential areas near Riverside Park and the college district have contributed to lower incident rates in those zones. The Beloit Police Department publishes regular crime reports and engages in community policing efforts designed to build trust and improve response times. Economic development investments — critical given the city's 7.7% unemployment rate — are also a long-term lever for reducing crime, since employment opportunity is one of the strongest predictors of declining property crime over time. Residents can track progress by monitoring how the crime map's heat zones shift year over year, and by reporting incidents promptly through the Beloit Police Department's official site.