Kitchener–Waterloo is safer than the Canadian average and getting safer: the Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo metro area’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) fell 9% to 66.8 in 2025, against a national figure of 75.0. Its police-reported crime rate fell 5% to 5,083 incidents per 100,000 people, about 9% below the Canadian rate of 5,585. The index has now dropped three years in a row from its 2022 peak.
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 Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo census metropolitan area (CMA), which covers Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and surrounding townships. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Is Kitchener-Waterloo safe compared with other Canadian cities?
It sits near the middle of the national table. With a CSI of 66.8, Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo ranked 22nd of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 (1st being the highest), about 11% below the national index (our arithmetic). Within Ontario it scores higher than Toronto (55.0), Hamilton (54.8) and Guelph (57.8), and is level with London (66.0).
The region recorded 36,163 Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) in 2025, a rate of 5,083 per 100,000 people. That is above the Ontario rate of 4,296 but below the Canadian rate.
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo CMA | 66.8 | -9% | 5,083 |
| London CMA | 66.0 | +8% | 5,059 |
| Guelph CMA | 57.8 | +2% | 4,288 |
| Brantford CMA | 72.1 | +8% | 5,381 |
| Hamilton CMA | 54.8 | -7% | 4,076 |
| Toronto CMA | 55.0 | -7% | 3,950 |
| Ontario | 57.2 | -6% | 4,296 |
| Canada | 75.0 | -5% | 5,585 |
Is crime in Kitchener-Waterloo going up or down?
Down in recent years. The region’s CSI rose steadily from 60.59 in 2015 to a peak of 78.87 in 2022. Since then it has fallen each year, to 66.82 in 2025, about 15% below that peak (our arithmetic). It remains about 10% higher than in 2015.
Crime Severity Index, Kitchener-Waterloo and Canada, 2015–2025
| Year | Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 60.59 | 70.39 |
| 2016 | 60.80 | 72.01 |
| 2017 | 69.43 | 73.60 |
| 2018 | 74.06 | 75.60 |
| 2019 | 73.46 | 79.72 |
| 2020 | 74.94 | 73.92 |
| 2021 | 76.26 | 74.87 |
| 2022 | 78.87 | 78.74 |
| 2023 | 75.81 | 81.27 |
| 2024 | 73.13 | 78.84 |
| 2025 | 66.82 | 75.01 |
The 2025 fall came from both violent and non-violent crime. The violent CSI dropped from 91.32 to 85.09 (about -7%) and the non-violent CSI from 66.48 to 60.09 (about -10%), by our arithmetic.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service figures are almost identical to the CMA’s (66.82 in 2025, down from 73.13 in 2024), because the police region and the metro area largely overlap. So, unlike some cities, there is no separate, higher “city core” figure to reconcile here.
What kinds of crime are most common in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Property crime and theft make up most incidents, as they do nationally. Comparing 2025 rates per 100,000 people with Canada:
- Violent crime: 1,397 per 100,000 (9,942 incidents), close to the national 1,443.
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm (level 2): 236 per 100,000, a little above Canada’s 214.
- Homicide: 4 victims, a rate of 0.56, about a third of the national 1.61.
- Robbery: 46 per 100,000, below Canada’s 55.
- Break-ins: 250 per 100,000, down from 288 in 2024 (about -13%) and slightly below Canada’s 262.
- Vehicle theft: 156 per 100,000, down from 195 (about -20%) and below Canada’s 201.
- Shoplifting: 485 per 100,000, close to the national 502.
- Fraud: 504 per 100,000, above Canada’s 426.
Overall, the profile is close to the Canadian average across most categories, with notably fewer homicides and car thefts and somewhat more reported fraud.
Which parts of Kitchener-Waterloo record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood data, and we do not rank neighbourhoods. The usual pattern applies: reported incidents concentrate where footfall is highest, such as the downtown cores of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, nightlife streets, shopping centres, transit stations and areas busy with students in term time. A higher count in those places mostly reflects how many people pass through.
Is Kitchener-Waterloo safe for students and families?
By Canadian standards, yes. The homicide rate is low, robbery and car theft are below average, and the overall index has improved for three straight years. Students and newcomers should take the same care as in any city: lock bikes and cars, keep valuables out of sight, use well-lit routes and travel with others late at night, and be wary of phone and online scams, given that reported fraud runs above the national rate.
Police data counts only what is reported. Statistics Canada’s 2019 victimization survey found that only about 29% of victimizations reached the police.
How do I check crime near a specific address in Kitchener-Waterloo?
- Start with the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Check its website for any public crime map, statistics or open data it publishes for the region.
- Use our map. The Canada Crime Map brings official figures together by city.
- Compare two areas. Put the address you are considering next to another part of the region you know, using the same time period and crime types.
- Read the limits. Maps show reported incidents, often placed at a block or intersection. They describe events, not the people who live there.
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.
Kitchener-Waterloo crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Kitchener-Waterloo?
In 2025 the Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo CMA recorded 5,083 police-reported Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, down 5% from 5,359 in 2024.
Is crime going down in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Yes. The CSI has fallen three years in a row, from 78.87 in 2022 to 66.82 in 2025, including a 9% drop in 2025 alone.
Is Kitchener-Waterloo safer than London, Ontario?
They are very close. In 2025 Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo had a CSI of 66.8 and London 66.0; crime rates were 5,083 and 5,059. The difference is that Kitchener–Waterloo’s index fell 9% while London’s rose 8%.
How many homicides were there in Kitchener-Waterloo in 2025?
Statistics Canada recorded 4 homicide victims in the CMA in 2025, a rate of 0.56 per 100,000, well below the national rate of 1.61.
Does the data include Cambridge?
Yes. The CMA covers Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and surrounding townships, so the figures describe the whole region rather than one city.
Related: Safest cities in Ontario · Is London, Ontario safe? · Is Hamilton safe? · Fraud and scams in Canada · Safest cities for newcomers. Official source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.
