Peterborough has low crime severity but a relatively high volume of reported crime: the Peterborough census metropolitan area’s Crime Severity Index fell 6% to 57.3 in 2025, about 24% below the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate, however, was 5,385 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people, the second-highest of Ontario’s 15 metro areas.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index by census metropolitan area (Table 35-10-0026-01). Rankings and ratios are our own calculation. Community Safety Map details as reported by PTBO Canada and PTBO Today (August 2025), checked on 12 October 2026. Updated 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Peterborough CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 57.3 in 2025, down 6% from 61.1 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Peterborough’s crime rate was 5,385 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 1%, about 25% above Ontario’s 4,296 (our calculation).
- Peterborough had the 11th-lowest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Peterborough had the lowest severity per reported incident of all 41 metro areas in 2025: its CSI was the lowest relative to its crime rate (our calculation).
- Peterborough’s 2025 CSI was 9% below its 2021 peak of 63.1 (our calculation).
Is Peterborough safe?
Peterborough is safer than the Canadian average on the Crime Severity Index: its 2025 index of 57.3 was about 24% below the national 75.0 and almost the same as Ontario’s 57.2, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). Peterborough’s crime rate of 5,385 per 100,000 was about 4% below the national rate of 5,585 but about 25% above the Ontario rate.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) is a Statistics Canada measure that weights each police-reported offence by its seriousness, with Canada in 2006 set at 100. The crime rate counts Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, with every incident counted equally. The Peterborough census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the City of Peterborough and surrounding townships, not only the city itself. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Peterborough CMA | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 57.3 | 57.2 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | −6% | −6% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 5,385 | 4,296 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | +1% | −4% | −2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
Peterborough’s severity index fell in line with the province in 2025, while its crime rate edged up.
Why is Peterborough’s crime rate high but its severity low?
Peterborough’s crime rate is high relative to its severity because most of its reported incidents are less serious offences: the Peterborough CMA had the lowest Crime Severity Index relative to its crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, by our calculation from Statistics Canada data. The crime rate counts a minor theft and a serious assault the same, while the CSI gives the serious offence far more weight.
By our calculation, Peterborough recorded about 10.6 CSI points per 1,000 incidents per 100,000 people, against about 13.4 for Canada and 13.3 for Ontario. Statistics Canada does not publish a breakdown by offence type for the Peterborough CMA in the data we use, so we cannot say which offences drive the volume. Statistics Canada also cautions that the CSI is not a universal indicator of safety.
Is crime in Peterborough going down?
Crime severity in Peterborough has eased since 2021: the Peterborough CMA’s Crime Severity Index fell from a peak of 63.1 in 2021 to 57.3 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada, a drop of about 9% (our calculation). The 2025 value is still about 4% above 2015.
| Year | Peterborough CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 55.3 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 55.1 | 72.0 |
| 2017 | 53.2 | 73.6 |
| 2018 (low) | 49.0 | 75.6 |
| 2019 | 53.8 | 79.7 |
| 2020 | 61.2 | 73.9 |
| 2021 (peak) | 63.1 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 62.4 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 60.8 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 61.1 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 57.3 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Peterborough’s index has stayed below the national CSI in every year since 2015. Statistics Canada cautions that smaller metro areas can swing more from year to year.
How does Peterborough compare with other Ontario cities?
Peterborough had the seventh-lowest Crime Severity Index of Ontario’s 15 metro areas in 2025, at 57.3, but the second-highest crime rate after Thunder Bay, according to Statistics Canada (rankings are our calculation). Its crime rate of 5,385 was just above Brantford’s 5,381.
| Ontario metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Thunder Bay | 114.1 | 8,373 |
| Peterborough | 57.3 | 5,385 |
| Brantford | 72.1 | 5,381 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 66.8 | 5,083 |
| Kingston | 61.5 | 5,005 |
| Belleville–Quinte West | 63.1 | 4,920 |
| Guelph | 57.8 | 4,288 |
| Barrie | 46.9 | 3,777 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025). Selected Ontario metro areas, ordered by crime rate.
For nearby comparisons, see Kingston crime rate, is Barrie safe?, Oshawa crime rate and Brantford crime rate. The provincial rankings are in safest cities in Ontario and most dangerous cities in Ontario.
How does Peterborough rank in Canada?
Peterborough had the 11th-lowest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 and the 19th-highest crime rate, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Its severity index was close to Guelph (57.8) and Trois-Rivières (56.0). The full list is in our crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do I check crime near an address in Peterborough?
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Use the police map. The Peterborough Police Service introduced an online Community Safety Map in August 2025. Local media reported that it shows the past 365 days of calls for service in categories such as assault, break and enter, fraud, shoplifting, stolen vehicles and theft, plotted at intersections rather than exact addresses. Police cautioned against drawing conclusions about the safety of a specific area from it.
- Compare with the province. Our Ontario crime map links police maps across the province, and the Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city.
- Read the limits. Our guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood explains why calls for service are not the same as confirmed crimes.
Want this on your phone?
Safety App Canada puts official crime data on a live map, plans walking routes that avoid high-risk areas and sends one-tap SOS alerts to the people you trust. Coming soon to Android and iPhone.
Peterborough crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Peterborough, Ontario?
The Peterborough CMA’s crime rate was 5,385 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 1% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Peterborough safer than Kingston?
On crime severity, yes. Peterborough’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 57.3 against Kingston’s 61.5, although Peterborough’s crime rate was higher (5,385 against 5,005 per 100,000).
Is crime in Peterborough going down?
Yes, in 2025. Peterborough’s CSI fell 6% to 57.3, about 9% below its 2021 peak of 63.1 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
Is Peterborough safe for students?
Peterborough’s 2025 Crime Severity Index of 57.3 was about 24% below the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Ordinary precautions with bikes, cars and belongings still apply, since the volume of reported incidents is above the Ontario average.
Does Peterborough have a crime map?
Yes. The Peterborough Police Service’s Community Safety Map shows calls for service from the past 365 days, plotted at intersections. Our Peterborough crime map guide explains how to use it and its limits.
Related: safest cities in Ontario · is Kingston safe? · is Guelph safe? · Ontario crime map · crime rate by province · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.