COUNTY FATALITY DATA

Brown County, Wisconsin

Road fatality data for Brown County (WI). Data period: 2016-2023.

119
Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
12
Latest Year Deaths
4.9
Per 100k Residents
Decreasing
Trend

The verdict

Brown County's fatality rate of 4.9 per 100,000 residents puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.

96%
of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
12.3/100k
Wisconsin county average
Decreasing
fatality trend

What the Data Shows

Brown County, Wisconsin recorded 119 total road fatalities across 104 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 12 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 13.2 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 4.9 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.

Despite a comparatively active crash history (104 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Brown County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Wisconsin state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.

The directional trend for Brown County is decreasing, which suggests that road-design improvements, enforcement, or emergency-response changes are reducing the death toll. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Brown County's 119-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.

Total Fatalities

119

Latest Year

12

Avg Annual

13.2

Rate per 100K

4.9

Trend

↓ Decreasing

How does Brown County compare?

Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.

Brown County
4.9 per 100k
Wisconsin county average
12.3 per 100k

Brown County is 60% safer than the comparison

Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.

Among the 15 rated counties in Wisconsin, Brown County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 12.3 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Brown County's rate and the state average is 7.4 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Lafayette County, at 17.1 per 100,000 (a difference of 12.2). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Burnett County (25.7), Juneau County (21.8), Rusk County (21.2), Polk County (20.5), Sawyer County (19.4), Waushara County (19.3), Adams County (19.1), Jackson County (18.7), Clark County (18.4), Oconto County (18.4), Columbia County (17.6), Lincoln County (17.3), Bayfield County (17.3), Lafayette County (17.1).

Brown County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county

Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population

5 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 96% of 2,392 rated counties

Brown County 0 60 rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03

Brown County's rate vs. the Wisconsin state average

030Wisconsin avg12/100k4.9/100k
Brown County's rate vs. the Wisconsin state average

Frequently Asked Questions

How many traffic fatalities occurred in Brown County, Wisconsin?

Brown County recorded 119 total traffic fatalities across 104 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 12 fatalities. The county averages approximately 13.2 fatalities per year.

What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Brown County?

Despite a comparatively active crash history (104 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Brown County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Wisconsin may provide additional context.

Is the trend of road fatalities in Brown County increasing or decreasing?

The trend in Brown County is decreasing. This suggests road safety improvements are having a positive effect in the county.

What is the fatality rate per capita in Brown County?

Brown County has a fatality rate of 4.9 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.

How does Brown County compare to the rest of Wisconsin?

Brown County's per-capita rate of 4.9 per 100,000 residents is below the Wisconsin county average of 12.3. Visit the Wisconsin state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.

Where does the road fatality data for Brown County come from?

All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only

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Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.