Kenosha, WI Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Kenosha, WI

What is Kenosha's overall crime grade and what does it mean?

Kenosha earns an overall crime grade of B- for 2026, meaning it performs better than a significant portion of U.S. cities of comparable size. A B- grade indicates that while Kenosha is not crime-free, its incident rates place it in a relatively favorable position nationally. Property crimes — including theft, burglary, and vehicle break-ins — account for the majority of reported incidents and are the primary reason the grade doesn't reach a full B or higher. Violent crime, while present, represents a smaller share of total incidents. For context, cities with a C or D grade typically see crime rates 30–60% higher than Kenosha's current levels, so the B- reflects genuine progress in community safety.

How does Kenosha's crime rate compare to national and Wisconsin averages?

With a population of 123,865 and a population density of 1,359 residents per square mile, Kenosha's crime profile is shaped by its mid-size urban character. The city's B- overall crime grade puts it ahead of many Wisconsin cities with similar density and economic profiles. The unemployment rate of 6.8% and a poverty rate of 15.6% are economic indicators that correlate with higher property crime nationally, yet Kenosha's grade suggests local policing and community programs are mitigating some of that pressure. Nationally, cities with poverty rates above 15% average roughly 10–20% higher property crime rates than the U.S. median — Kenosha's B- grade indicates it is outperforming that statistical expectation.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Kenosha?

Based on reported incident patterns, areas on Kenosha's far south side near the Pleasant Prairie border and neighborhoods clustered around Uptown and the lakefront corridor along Lake Michigan tend to show lower crime concentrations. These areas benefit from higher owner-occupancy rates, active neighborhood associations, and proximity to recreational amenities that encourage foot traffic and natural surveillance. The downtown Kenosha district sees a moderate mix of property and minor offenses, consistent with most mid-size downtown cores. For the most granular, block-by-block breakdown, the interactive crime map on this page lets you filter by incident type and date range to compare specific streets and ZIP codes directly.

What types of crime are most common in Kenosha?

Property crime dominates Kenosha's incident reports, consistent with national trends where property offenses typically represent 75–85% of all reported crimes in cities of this size. Theft — including shoplifting and vehicle theft — is the single most frequently reported category. Burglary rates are a secondary concern, particularly in denser residential corridors. Violent crime, including assault and robbery, accounts for a smaller but meaningful share of incidents; these events are more concentrated in certain inner-city neighborhoods and tend to spike during late-night hours on weekends. Substance-related offenses also appear regularly in police reports and often intersect with both property and violent crime categories. The B- overall grade reflects this distribution: strong enough to indicate relative safety, but with clear room for improvement in property crime prevention.

Is Kenosha a good place to live given its crime statistics?

For most residents, Kenosha's combination of a B- crime grade, a median home value of $160,648, and a median household income of $56,113 makes it a competitively affordable and reasonably safe place to live relative to the broader Midwest. The median rent of $923 per month is well below the national average, meaning residents can allocate more of their budget toward security measures, community involvement, or simply quality of life. The 6.8% unemployment rate and 15.6% poverty rate are real economic headwinds that contribute to property crime pressure, but the B- grade signals that community policing, neighborhood watch programs, and civic investment are producing measurable results. Families and individuals who research specific neighborhoods using the Kenosha crime map — and focus on areas with lower incident density — will find many blocks that feel safe, walkable, and community-oriented year-round.

How can I use the Kenosha crime map to make smarter safety decisions?

The crime map on this page aggregates incident data so you can filter by crime type (theft, assault, vandalism, etc.), time period, and geographic area. Practical uses include: comparing the incident density of two neighborhoods before signing a lease, identifying the days and hours when certain crime types peak in your area, and tracking whether a specific block's safety profile has improved or declined over recent months. Because Kenosha's overall grade is a B-, you'll find meaningful variation across the city — some corridors perform closer to an A, while a few concentrated hotspots pull the average down. Using the map's heat-layer view is the fastest way to visualize those differences without wading through raw incident logs.