Yes. On Statistics Canada’s main measure, Barrie was the lowest-crime metro area in Canada in 2025. The Barrie census metropolitan area (CMA) recorded a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 46.9, the lowest of all 41 CMAs, down 3% on 2024 and about 37% below Canada’s 75.0. Its crime rate was 3,777 incidents per 100,000 people, down 4%, compared with 5,585 nationally.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index and incident-based crime tables. Figures are for the whole Barrie census metropolitan area. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
What is Barrie’s crime rate in 2025?
Police in the Barrie CMA reported 11,355 Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) in 2025. That is a rate of 3,777 per 100,000 people, down from 3,935 in 2024, and about 32% below the national rate (our arithmetic).
The Crime Severity Index weights each offence by its seriousness. Barrie’s 46.9 was the lowest of any CMA, ahead of Saguenay (49.3), Sherbrooke (50.3) and Ottawa (50.6).
Is Barrie the safest city in Canada?
It had the lowest CSI of any metro area in 2025, which is the closest official measure. Here is how it compares with other low-CSI metros and with nearby Ontario cities:
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 | Rate change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrie CMA | 46.9 | -3% | 3,777 | -4% |
| Saguenay CMA | 49.3 | -13% | 2,973 | -13% |
| Sherbrooke CMA | 50.3 | -7% | 3,134 | -5% |
| Ottawa CMA (Ont. part) | 50.6 | -6% | 4,212 | -2% |
| St. Catharines–Niagara CMA | 53.8 | -9% | 4,139 | -2% |
| Toronto CMA | 55.0 | -7% | 3,950 | -5% |
| Ontario | 57.2 | -6% | 4,296 | -4% |
| Canada | 75.0 | -5% | 5,585 | -2% |
Two points stand out. First, the CSI and the crime rate rank cities differently: Saguenay and Sherbrooke had lower crime rates than Barrie, but Barrie’s offences were, on average, less serious, giving it the lowest severity score. Second, the gap between the lowest few metros is small, so the order can change from one year to the next. See the safest cities in Canada and the safest cities in Ontario.
Is crime in Barrie going up or down?
Barrie’s CSI has stayed low for a decade, between about 43 and 53:
Crime Severity Index, Barrie metro and Canada, 2015–2025
| Year | Barrie CMA CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 42.89 | 70.39 |
| 2016 | 44.46 | 72.01 |
| 2017 | 44.97 | 73.60 |
| 2018 | 48.76 | 75.60 |
| 2019 | 52.96 | 79.72 |
| 2020 | 44.86 | 73.92 |
| 2021 | 45.02 | 74.87 |
| 2022 | 47.03 | 78.74 |
| 2023 | 49.00 | 81.27 |
| 2024 | 48.29 | 78.84 |
| 2025 | 46.93 | 75.01 |
The index has fallen two years in a row and is about 11% below its 2019 high, though about 9% above 2015 (our arithmetic). Barrie has been well below the national level in every year shown.
Barrie is a mid-sized metro with about 11,000 incidents a year. In places this size, a handful of serious cases can nudge the index by a few points, so a single year’s move of 2–3% is not meaningful on its own.
What kind of crime is most common in Barrie?
Selected 2025 figures for the Barrie CMA, with national rates for comparison:
- Break-ins: 312 incidents, a rate of 104 per 100,000, down from 151 in 2024 (about -31%) and about 60% below the national 262.
- Vehicle theft: 452 incidents, a rate of 150 per 100,000, about a quarter below the national 201.
- Violent crime: 2,441 incidents, a rate of 812 per 100,000, compared with 1,443 nationally.
- Shoplifting ($5,000 or under): 1,827 incidents, a rate of 608 per 100,000, about 21% above the national 502. This is one category where Barrie is not below average.
- Homicide: 5 homicides, a rate of 1.66 per 100,000, close to the national 1.61. With so few cases, this rate can swing widely year to year.
Which parts of Barrie record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood figures, and we do not rank Barrie neighbourhoods. As in most cities, reported incidents tend to cluster where people gather: downtown, shopping areas, nightlife and transit stops. That reflects footfall, not the people who live there. The CMA also covers surrounding municipalities, so the metro figure is an average across the region.
Is Barrie safe to live in or visit?
By the official figures, Barrie is one of the safest places in Canada to live. That does not mean crime does not happen, so the usual habits still apply: lock your car and home, and keep valuables out of sight. Also remember:
- Reported incidents only. In 2019 only about 29% of victimizations were reported to police.
- Incidents, not people. The rate counts incidents, not victims.
- The CSI is not a full safety score. Statistics Canada warns it is not a universal indicator of safety.
Moving to Ontario? Our guide on the safest cities for newcomers compares options.
How do I check crime near a specific address in Barrie?
- Check your local police service’s website. Look for published crime statistics, maps or community updates for the area.
- Use our map. Our Canada crime map brings official figures together by city.
- Compare two areas. Look at an area you know next to the one you are considering.
- Read the limits. Maps show reported incidents only, often offset for privacy, and busy commercial streets always show more.
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.
Barrie crime FAQ
What is Barrie’s Crime Severity Index?
46.9 in 2025, the lowest of Canada’s 41 census metropolitan areas, down 3% from 48.3 in 2024.
What is the crime rate in Barrie?
3,777 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, down 4%. The national rate was 5,585.
Is Barrie safer than Toronto?
On the CSI, yes: 46.9 for Barrie against 55.0 for the Toronto CMA. Barrie’s crime rate (3,777) was also a little lower than Toronto’s (3,950).
Has Barrie always been this low?
Barrie’s CSI has stayed between 42.89 and 52.96 every year since 2015, always well below the national level.
Are break-ins common in Barrie?
No. Barrie’s break-in rate was 104 per 100,000 in 2025, down about 31% on 2024 and well below the national 262.
Related: Safest cities in Canada · Safest cities in Ontario · Is Toronto safe? · Safest places to live in the GTA · The Crime Severity Index explained. Official source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.
