Yes — by national standards Hamilton is one of the safer metro areas in Canada. Its Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 54.8 in 2025, down 7% from 2024 and about 27% below the Canadian average of 75.0, and its police-reported crime rate was 4,076 incidents per 100,000 people. Only five of Canada’s 41 census metropolitan areas recorded a lower CSI. The one figure that moved the wrong way was violent crime, which rose by about 8% per head even as overall severity fell.
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 Hamilton census metropolitan area (CMA) unless we say they are for the Hamilton Police Service area. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Is Hamilton safe compared with other Canadian cities?
On the two headline measures Statistics Canada publishes, Hamilton sits comfortably in the lower half of the country. Its CSI of 54.8 is the sixth-lowest of the 41 CMAs, just behind Barrie (46.9), Saguenay (49.3), Sherbrooke (50.3), Ottawa (50.6) and St. Catharines–Niagara (53.8), and essentially level with Toronto (55.0).
The crime rate tells a similar story. Hamilton recorded 34,254 Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) in 2025, or 4,076 per 100,000 residents. That is about 27% below the national rate of 5,585 and a little below Ontario’s 4,296.
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 | Rate change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton CMA | 54.8 | -7% | 4,076 | -4% |
| Toronto CMA | 55.0 | -7% | 3,950 | -5% |
| St. Catharines–Niagara CMA | 53.8 | -9% | 4,139 | -2% |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo CMA | 66.8 | -9% | 5,083 | -5% |
| Ottawa CMA (Ont. part) | 50.6 | -6% | 4,212 | -2% |
| Ontario | 57.2 | -6% | 4,296 | -4% |
| Canada | 75.0 | -5% | 5,585 | -2% |
What is the crime rate in the city of Hamilton itself?
The CMA figures above cover the whole metro area, which is larger than the City of Hamilton. Statistics Canada also publishes a CSI for the Hamilton Police Service, which polices the city. That figure is higher: 62.2 in 2025, down from 66.7 in 2024 (about -7%, our arithmetic). Its violent CSI was 82.6 and its non-violent CSI 54.6.
The gap is normal. Urban cores with busy downtowns, shopping and nightlife tend to record more incidents per resident than the suburban and rural parts of a metro area. Even at 62.2, the Hamilton Police Service area is about 17% below the national CSI. A separate crime rate per 100,000 for the police-service area is not part of the data we use, so we quote only its CSI.
Is crime in Hamilton going up or down?
Down in the latest year, but the longer picture is flat to slightly up. Hamilton’s CSI rose from 51.4 in 2015 to a high of 60.0 in 2017, hovered in the mid-to-high 50s for several years and has now fallen back to 54.8 — about 7% above where it was in 2015. Canada as a whole followed a similar path, ending 2025 roughly 7% above its 2015 level.
Crime Severity Index, Hamilton metro and Canada, 2015–2025
| Year | Hamilton CMA CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51.39 | 70.39 |
| 2016 | 55.00 | 72.01 |
| 2017 | 60.01 | 73.60 |
| 2018 | 58.40 | 75.60 |
| 2019 | 59.70 | 79.72 |
| 2020 | 55.32 | 73.92 |
| 2021 | 56.80 | 74.87 |
| 2022 | 56.56 | 78.74 |
| 2023 | 59.39 | 81.27 |
| 2024 | 58.70 | 78.84 |
| 2025 | 54.82 | 75.01 |
Both parts of the index fell in 2025: Hamilton’s violent CSI went from 73.0 to 68.8 and its non-violent CSI from 53.5 to 49.7.
What kind of crime is most common in Hamilton?
As in every Canadian city, property crime makes up the bulk of reported incidents: 22,024 property offences in 2025, a rate of 2,621 per 100,000 (down about 8% from 2,853). Some of the main categories:
- Break-ins: 1,609 incidents, 191 per 100,000 — down about 26% from 257 in 2024, and well below the national rate of 262.
- Vehicle theft: 2,190 vehicles, 261 per 100,000 — down about 14% from 303, but still about 30% above the Canadian rate of 201 and among the ten highest CMA rates in the country.
- Shoplifting ($5,000 or under): 4,209 incidents, 501 per 100,000 — down about 17% from 602, while nationally shoplifting rose 11%.
- Fraud: 3,083 incidents, 367 per 100,000.
- Violent crime: 8,653 incidents, 1,030 per 100,000 — up about 8% from 957, though still below the Canadian rate of 1,443. Robbery accounted for 401 incidents and assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm for 1,478.
- Homicide: 8 victims, 0.95 per 100,000, down from 1.32 and below the national rate of 1.61.
- Drug offences: 1,372 incidents, 163 per 100,000 — roughly double the 2024 rate of 81. Drug figures often reflect police enforcement activity as much as changes in drug use.
The practical takeaway for residents is car theft: Hamilton’s rate is higher than Toronto’s (238) and well above the Ontario average (187).
Which parts of Hamilton record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood figures, and we do not rank neighbourhoods. As in most cities, reported crime tends to cluster where people gather in large numbers — the downtown core, major shopping areas, nightlife streets and transit hubs — partly because more people means more opportunities for theft and more incidents witnessed and reported. A higher count in a busy area does not mean the people who live there are at greater risk.
If you are comparing streets before renting or buying, use the Hamilton Police Service’s own published data rather than word of mouth (see below).
Is Hamilton safe to live in, visit and walk around at night?
For most residents and visitors, yes. A CSI well below the national average, a falling break-in rate and a low homicide rate all point the same way. Sensible precautions are the same as in any Canadian city: lock your car and keep valuables out of sight (car theft is Hamilton’s standout risk), stick to well-lit, busy routes at night, and keep your phone charged.
Keep in mind what these numbers can and cannot tell you. They count incidents reported to police, not people, and many crimes are never reported — in Statistics Canada’s 2019 victimization survey only about 29% of incidents were reported. The CSI weights serious crimes more heavily than minor ones, so a few serious cases can move it, and it is not a universal measure of how safe a street feels.
How do I check crime near a specific address in Hamilton?
- Start with the official source. The Hamilton Police Service website publishes local crime information and statistics, including an online crime map of the past 60 days. Our Hamilton crime map guide explains how to use it.
- Use our map. The Canada Crime Map brings official figures for each city together in one place.
- Compare two areas, not one. Look at the address you are considering alongside a nearby area you already know, over the same period and crime types.
- Read the limits. Map points are often generalised to a block or intersection, recent incidents may be missing, and unreported crime does not appear at all. Our neighbourhood checking guide explains 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.
Hamilton crime FAQ
What is Hamilton’s crime rate?
In 2025 the Hamilton CMA recorded 4,076 Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, down 4% from 2024. The national rate was 5,585.
Is Hamilton more dangerous than Toronto?
Not on the overall numbers. Hamilton’s CSI (54.8) and Toronto’s (55.0) were almost identical in 2025. Toronto’s crime rate was slightly lower (3,950 vs 4,076), while Hamilton’s homicide rate was close to Toronto’s (0.95 vs 0.91 per 100,000).
Is crime in Hamilton getting worse?
Not in 2025. The CSI fell 7% and break-ins, car theft and shoplifting all dropped. The violent crime rate did rise, by about 8%, and drug offences roughly doubled.
Is car theft a problem in Hamilton?
It is the city’s most notable risk. Hamilton’s 2025 rate of 261 vehicle thefts per 100,000 was down about 14% on 2024 but about 30% above the national rate.
Why are the city’s numbers higher than the CMA’s?
The Hamilton Police Service CSI (62.2) covers the city itself, including its busiest areas, while the CMA figure (54.8) averages in lower-crime surrounding communities.
Related: Safest cities in Ontario · Is Toronto safe? · Is Niagara Falls safe? · Car theft in Canada · The Crime Severity Index explained. In an emergency call 911.
