COUNTY FATALITY DATA

Milwaukee County: larger FARS fatality book

Milwaukee County (WI) holds a larger FARS book (686, #54 of 3,137) with 91 latest-year deaths.

686
Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
91
Latest Year Deaths
Very high count
9.9
Per 100k Residents
Below average
Increasing
Trend

Larger fatality book

Milwaukee County ranks #54 of 3,137 by total FARS fatalities (686 across 2016-2023) - top-third book size.

Milwaukee County in the larger-book third

According to NHTSA FARS, Milwaukee County carries a top-third fatality book (686 across 2016-2023, #54 of 3,137) at 9.9/100k.

#1,774 of 2,328
lower-rate third
#54 of 3,137
larger-book third
#44 of 67
in WI by rate
Increasing
fatality trend

NHTSA county milepost

Milepost MILWAUKEE-79 · Milwaukee 9.9/100k · #1,774 of 2,328

Milwaukee County · 9.9/100k · increasing

  • CRASH 9.9/100k
  • FARS #1,774 of 2,328
  • NHTSA 686 book
  • MILE Increasing
  • POST near Allen
  • BAND -27.9% vs WI

Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Wisconsin state profile →

Milwaukee County rate neighbourhood

Deaths per 100,000 residents vs nearest nationwide rate peers (pop ≥250k).

per 100k

What this shows Milwaukee County sits among nearest nationwide per-capita peers.

Source NHTSA FARS As of 2026-09-03

How does Milwaukee County compare?

2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.

Milwaukee County
9.9 per 100k
Wisconsin county average
13.7 per 100k

Milwaukee County is 28% safer than the comparison

2023 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 and a 2023 FARS record.

Among the 15 rated counties in Wisconsin, Milwaukee County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 13.7 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Milwaukee County's rate and the state average is 3.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Green County, at 18.9 per 100,000 (a difference of 9.0). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Adams County (37.3), Lafayette County (35.4), Polk County (35.0), Sawyer County (32.3), Waushara County (32.1), Lincoln County (31.7), Burnett County (29.3), Iowa County (29.2), Richland County (23.3), Buffalo County (22.4), Rusk County (21.2), Jackson County (19.2), Fond Du Lac County (19.2), Green County (18.9).

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

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

10 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 76% of 2,328 rated counties

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 and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03

030Wisconsin avg14/100k9.9/100k
Milwaukee County's rate vs. the Wisconsin state average

Counties with similar FARS profiles

Two cross-state peer sets for Milwaukee County. Same-state rate comparisons stay in the chart above; these neighborhoods are nearest other-state counties with population at least 250,000.

Similar per-capita fatality rate

Nearest counties by deaths per 100,000 residents (9.9 here), outside Wisconsin.

Similar fatality volume

Nearest counties by recorded FARS deaths (686 here), excluding the rate-peer set.

More road safety data related to Milwaukee County

Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many traffic fatalities occurred in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee County recorded 686 total traffic fatalities across 619 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 91 fatalities. The county averages approximately 76.2 fatalities per year.

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

Despite a comparatively active crash history (619 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Milwaukee County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Wisconsin may provide additional context.

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

The trend in Milwaukee County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.

What is the fatality rate per capita in Milwaukee County?

Milwaukee County has a fatality rate of 9.9 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it safer than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.

Where does Milwaukee County rank for road fatality rate?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Milwaukee County ranks #1,774 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #44 of 67 rated counties in WI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Milwaukee County compare to the rest of Wisconsin?

Milwaukee County's per-capita rate of 9.9 per 100,000 residents is below the Wisconsin county average of 13.7. Visit the Wisconsin state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.

Where does the road fatality data for Milwaukee 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.