La Crosse, WI Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 78% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated April 2026
Is La Crosse Safe?
Yes — La Crosse is safer than most cities
An above-average city for safety with lower crime than the national average.
La Crosse has a crime rate that is 41% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 439.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 439
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
40% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 72
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
24% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
La Crosse Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
65 | -35% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
60 | -40% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
60 | -40% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
55 | -45% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
61 | -39% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
73 | -27% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
65 | -35% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
La Crosse Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
La Crosse Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific La Crosse zip codes.
La Crosse Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in La Crosse, WI?
La Crosse, WI has a crime safety grade of B+ as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 41% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 439 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 72 chance for property crime. La Crosse has lower crime than 78% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is La Crosse, WI safe to live in?
La Crosse is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of B+. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting La Crosse is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in La Crosse?
The estimated violent crime rate in La Crosse is 227.6 per 100,000 residents, which is 40% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 439 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 3.2 per 100K (35% below average); aggravated assault at 161.9 per 100K (40% below average); robbery at 44.2 per 100K (40% below average).
What is the property crime rate in La Crosse?
The estimated property crime rate in La Crosse is 1,388.8 per 100,000 residents, which is 24% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 72 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 164.3 per 100K (39% below average); larceny/theft at 1,016.9 per 100K (27% below average); vehicle theft at 207.6 per 100K (35% below average).
How does La Crosse crime compare to the national average?
La Crosse's overall crime rate is 41% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is larceny/theft (27% below average), while rape is 45% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, La Crosse has lower crime than 78% of them.
Is La Crosse safe to visit?
La Crosse is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 24% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does La Crosse crime compare to the rest of Wisconsin?
Wisconsin as a whole has crime that is 4% above the national average. La Crosse's crime rate is 41% below the national average, making it safer the typical Wisconsin city.
What type of crime is most common in La Crosse?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in La Crosse, with an estimated rate of 1,016.9 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 27% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (1,389 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (228 per 100K) in La Crosse, which is consistent with national trends.