Brantford is close to the Canadian average for crime but above the Ontario average: the Brantford census metropolitan area’s Crime Severity Index rose 8% to 72.1 in 2025, about 4% below the national 75.0 and about 26% above Ontario’s 57.2, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate rose 10% to 5,381 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people.
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) and incidents by violation (Table 35-10-0177-01). Rankings and ratios are our own calculation. Police map and online reporting details checked on the Brantford Police Service website on 12 October 2026. Updated 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Brantford CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 72.1 in 2025, up 8% from 66.9 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Brantford’s crime rate was 5,381 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 10%, the second-largest rise of Canada’s 41 metro areas after Thunder Bay (our calculation).
- Brantford had the second-highest Crime Severity Index in Ontario in 2025, after Thunder Bay (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Brantford’s car theft rate was 305 per 100,000 in 2025, the fifth-highest of any Canadian metro area and about 52% above the national 201 (our calculation).
- Brantford’s 2025 CSI was 22% below its 2018 peak of 92.5 (our calculation).
Is Brantford safe?
Brantford is about as safe as the average Canadian metro area but less safe than most of Ontario: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 72.1 was about 4% below the national 75.0 and about 26% above the Ontario provincial index of 57.2, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). Brantford’s crime rate of 5,381 per 100,000 was also about 4% below Canada’s 5,585 and about 25% above Ontario’s 4,296.
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. The Brantford census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the City of Brantford and the surrounding area, not only the city itself. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Brantford CMA | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 72.1 | 57.2 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | +8% | −6% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 5,381 | 4,296 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | +10% | −4% | −2% |
| Motor vehicle theft per 100,000 | 305 | 187 | 201 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Tables 35-10-0026-01 and 35-10-0177-01, and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
Brantford moved against the provincial trend in 2025: Ontario’s index fell 6%, while Brantford’s rose 8%, tied with London for the largest increase in the province.
Is crime in Brantford going up?
Crime in Brantford rose in 2025 after several years of decline: the Brantford CMA’s Crime Severity Index climbed from 66.9 in 2024 to 72.1 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada. Even after that rise, the index was about 22% below its 2018 peak of 92.5 and about 7% below its 2015 level of 77.7 (our calculation).
| Year | Brantford CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 77.7 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 87.9 | 72.0 |
| 2017 | 87.6 | 73.6 |
| 2018 (peak) | 92.5 | 75.6 |
| 2019 | 82.9 | 79.7 |
| 2020 | 80.1 | 73.9 |
| 2021 | 74.2 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 75.4 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 71.6 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 66.9 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 72.1 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Brantford’s index was above the national CSI every year from 2015 to 2020 and has been below it every year since 2021. The 2025 value is almost the same as 2023 (71.6), so the increase largely reversed the unusually low 2024 figure. Statistics Canada cautions that smaller metro areas can swing more from year to year and that the CSI is not a universal indicator of safety.
Is car theft a problem in Brantford?
Brantford has one of the highest car theft rates in Canada: the Brantford CMA recorded 304.7 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people in 2025, the fifth-highest rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas, according to Statistics Canada. Only Red Deer, Winnipeg, Moncton and Edmonton were higher.
| Area | Motor vehicle theft per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|
| Red Deer CMA | 361 |
| Winnipeg CMA | 355 |
| Moncton CMA | 339 |
| Edmonton CMA | 335 |
| Brantford CMA | 305 |
| Hamilton CMA | 261 |
| Toronto CMA | 238 |
| Canada | 201 |
| Ontario | 187 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025).
By our calculation, Brantford’s rate was about 52% above the national rate, about 63% above the Ontario rate and the highest of any Ontario metro area. Our guides on car theft in Canada and how to protect your car from theft cover the national picture and practical steps.
How does Brantford compare with other Ontario cities?
Brantford had the second-highest Crime Severity Index of Ontario’s 15 metro areas in 2025, at 72.1, behind only Thunder Bay (114.1), and the third-highest crime rate, according to Statistics Canada (rankings are our calculation). Its severity index was above neighbouring Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo (66.8), Guelph (57.8) and Hamilton (54.8).
| Ontario metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | CSI change 2024–25 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Bay | 114.1 | +3% | 8,373 |
| Brantford | 72.1 | +8% | 5,381 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 66.8 | −9% | 5,083 |
| London | 66.0 | +8% | 5,059 |
| Guelph | 57.8 | +2% | 4,288 |
| Hamilton | 54.8 | −7% | 4,076 |
| Barrie | 46.9 | −3% | 3,777 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025). Selected Ontario metro areas.
For nearby comparisons, see Hamilton crime rate, is Kitchener-Waterloo safe?, Guelph crime rate and is London, Ontario safe?. The provincial rankings are in most dangerous cities in Ontario and safest cities in Ontario.
How does Brantford rank in Canada?
Brantford had the 19th-highest Crime Severity Index and the 20th-highest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation), which places it near the middle of the national table. Its CSI increase of 8% was tied with London for the third-largest of any metro area, after Saint John (+20%) and Moncton (+11%). The full list is in our crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do I check crime near an address in Brantford?
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Use the police crime map. The Brantford Police Service publishes an online crime map of calls for service. The police note that not every call is a crime, that the information is preliminary and may change after investigation, and that locations are adjusted to protect privacy. Our Brantford crime map guide explains how to use it.
- Report minor crimes online. Brantford Police accept online reports for some incidents in city limits, such as theft or damage under $5,000 and theft from a vehicle. Break-ins to a home or business, incidents with a known suspect and personal violence must be reported by phone or in person.
- Compare with the province. Our Ontario crime map links every police map in the province, and the Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city. Our guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood explains the limits of the data.
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Brantford crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Brantford?
The Brantford CMA’s crime rate was 5,381 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 10% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Brantford more dangerous than Hamilton?
On the official measures, Brantford had more police-reported crime in 2025. Its Crime Severity Index was 72.1 against Hamilton’s 54.8, and its crime rate was 5,381 per 100,000 against 4,076.
Is crime in Brantford going up?
Yes, in 2025. Brantford’s CSI rose 8% to 72.1, close to its 2023 level, but it remains about 22% below its 2018 peak of 92.5 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
Is car theft high in Brantford?
Yes. Brantford’s motor vehicle theft rate of 305 per 100,000 in 2025 was the fifth-highest of Canada’s 41 metro areas and the highest in Ontario, according to Statistics Canada (ranking is our calculation).
Does Brantford have a crime map?
Yes. The Brantford Police Service publishes an online map of calls for service, with locations adjusted to protect privacy.
Related: most dangerous cities in Ontario · is Guelph safe? · is Hamilton safe? · Ontario crime map · car theft in Canada · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.