Guelph is one of the safer mid-sized metro areas in Canada: the Guelph census metropolitan area’s Crime Severity Index was 57.8 in 2025, up 2% from 2024 but about 23% below the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate was 4,288 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people, about 23% below Canada’s 5,585 and almost exactly the Ontario average.
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 Guelph Police Service website on 12 October 2026. Updated 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Guelph CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 57.8 in 2025, up 2% from 56.7 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Guelph’s crime rate was 4,288 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3%, about 23% below the national 5,585 and level with Ontario’s 4,296 (our calculation).
- Guelph had the 12th-lowest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Guelph recorded 1,497 violent incidents in 2025, a rate of 931 per 100,000, about 35% below the national 1,443 (our calculation).
- Guelph’s car theft rate was 127 per 100,000 in 2025, about 37% below the national 201 (our calculation).
Is Guelph safe?
Guelph is safer than the average Canadian metro area on the official measures: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 57.8 was about 23% below the national 75.0, and its violent crime rate was about 35% below the national rate, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). Within Ontario, Guelph sits close to the middle: its severity index was about 1% above the provincial 57.2 and its crime rate was almost identical to the provincial 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. The Guelph census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the City of Guelph and neighbouring townships, not only the city itself. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Guelph CMA | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 57.8 | 57.2 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | +2% | −6% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 4,288 | 4,296 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | +3% | −4% | −2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
Guelph was one of only five Ontario metro areas whose severity index rose in 2025, along with Brantford, London, Thunder Bay and Kingston, while the province as a whole fell 6%.
What is the crime rate in Guelph?
The Guelph CMA recorded 6,893 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a crime rate of 4,288 per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. That was up 3% from 2024.
| Offence (Guelph CMA, 2025) | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 | Canada rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code (excl. traffic) | 6,893 | 4,288 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 1,497 | 931 | 1,443 |
| Break and enter | 361 | 225 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 204 | 127 | 201 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025).
- Violent crime is well below average. Guelph’s rate of 931 per 100,000 was about 35% below the national 1,443 and lower than Kingston (1,048) or the Toronto CMA (987) (our calculation).
- Break-ins were 14% below the national rate, at 225 per 100,000 against 262 (our calculation). See break-ins in Canada.
- Car theft is low. At 127 per 100,000, Guelph’s rate was about 37% below Canada’s 201 and about 32% below Ontario’s 187 (our calculation). See car theft in Canada.
Is crime in Guelph going up?
Crime severity in Guelph rose slightly in 2025 but remains lower than its 2018 peak: the Guelph CMA’s Crime Severity Index was 57.8 in 2025, up from 56.7 in 2024 and about 18% below the peak of 70.6 in 2018, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). The 2025 value is still about 17% above 2015.
| Year | Guelph CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 49.4 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 54.6 | 72.0 |
| 2017 | 65.8 | 73.6 |
| 2018 (peak) | 70.6 | 75.6 |
| 2019 | 64.4 | 79.7 |
| 2020 | 62.1 | 73.9 |
| 2021 | 55.1 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 59.7 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 55.8 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 56.7 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 57.8 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Guelph’s index has stayed below the national CSI in every year since 2015, and since 2021 it has moved in a narrow band between about 55 and 60. 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.
How does Guelph compare with other Ontario cities?
Guelph had the eighth-highest Crime Severity Index of Ontario’s 15 metro areas in 2025, at 57.8, and the ninth-highest crime rate, according to Statistics Canada (rankings are our calculation). Its severity index was well below neighbouring Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo (66.8) and Brantford (72.1), but above Hamilton (54.8) and Toronto (55.0).
| Ontario metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Brantford | 72.1 | 5,381 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 66.8 | 5,083 |
| London | 66.0 | 5,059 |
| Kingston | 61.5 | 5,005 |
| Guelph | 57.8 | 4,288 |
| Toronto | 55.0 | 3,950 |
| Hamilton | 54.8 | 4,076 |
| Barrie | 46.9 | 3,777 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025). Selected Ontario metro areas.
For nearby comparisons, see Kitchener-Waterloo crime rate, Hamilton crime rate and is Barrie safe?. The provincial rankings are in safest cities in Ontario and most dangerous cities in Ontario.
How does Guelph rank in Canada?
Guelph had the 12th-lowest Crime Severity Index and the 14th-lowest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Its severity index was close to Peterborough (57.3) and Ontario’s provincial value (57.2). The full list is in our crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do I check crime near an address in Guelph?
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Use the police crime map. The Guelph Police Service publishes an online crime map of police calls for service, which can be filtered by call type, area of the city and date. Calls for service are not the same as confirmed crimes.
- Report minor crimes online. Guelph Police accept online reports for some non-emergency incidents, such as theft under $5,000, theft from a vehicle, mischief, lost property and fraud. Incidents with violence, a known suspect or evidence in hand must be reported by phone.
- 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.
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.
Guelph crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Guelph?
The Guelph CMA’s crime rate was 4,288 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Guelph safer than Kitchener-Waterloo?
Yes, on the official measures. Guelph’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 57.8 against 66.8 for Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, and its crime rate was 4,288 per 100,000 against 5,083.
Is crime in Guelph going up?
Slightly in 2025. Guelph’s CSI rose 2% to 57.8, but it remains about 18% below its 2018 peak of 70.6 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
Is Guelph safe for students?
Guelph’s violent crime rate of 931 per 100,000 in 2025 was about 35% below the national rate, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Ordinary precautions at night and with bikes and belongings still apply.
Does Guelph have a crime map?
Yes. The Guelph Police Service publishes an online map of calls for service that can be filtered by call type, area and date.
Related: safest cities in Ontario · is Kingston safe? · is Kitchener-Waterloo safe? · Ontario crime map · crime rate by province · Canada Crime Map · Guelph crime map. In an emergency call 911.