Is University of Waterloo safe? Safety score & official area statistics 2026
Area-level official statistics
University of Waterloo: safety score 68/100 (grade B), ranked #30 of 36 in Canada, from official area-level statistics — data through 2025-12. Not directly comparable with point-based rankings.
Area-level official statistics
This region publishes area-level counts rather than point-level crime data (LGA for Australia, census metropolitan area for Canada, police agency jurisdiction for the US, district / Landkreis for Germany, commune for France, ward/city for Tokyo, metropolitan province for South Korea). The score ranks universities by weighted incidents per 100,000 residents within the same statistical pool — it is not directly comparable with point-based rankings. Counts cover the whole administrative area, not the campus surroundings, and are published with a lag of a few months.
68/100
Grade: B · #30 of 36 in Canada
Official area statistics — recent periods
Area-level official counts for University of Waterloo's administrative area (local government area in Australia, census metropolitan area in Canada, police agency jurisdiction in the US) — the whole area, not the campus surroundings. Publishing cycles differ by source (monthly, quarterly or annual) and figures lag by a few months.
| Period | Violent | Property | Minor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12 | 8822 | 20665 | 4664 | 34151 |
| 2022-12 | 9295 | 21303 | 4189 | 34787 |
| 2023-12 | 9708 | 22970 | 4385 | 37063 |
| 2024-12 | 10145 | 22973 | 4926 | 38044 |
| 2025-12 | 9942 | 21528 | 4693 | 36163 |
Latest release: 2025-12 — 36163 records in total — violent 9942, property 21528, minor 4693.
See University of Waterloo on the interactive map
Area-level official statistics, live safety-news briefs, AI Q&A about the area, and one-tap check-in for your parents — free in StudySafeLink.
Other universities in Waterloo
- Wilfrid Laurier University 68 /100
FAQs about safety at University of Waterloo
What is University of Waterloo's safety score?
University of Waterloo: 68/100 (grade B), #30 of 36 in Canada. This region publishes area-level counts rather than point-level data, so the score ranks universities by weighted incidents per 100,000 residents in a dedicated area-statistics pool (data through 2025-12). It is not directly comparable with point-based rankings.
How many crimes are recorded near University of Waterloo?
For the latest published period (2025-12), 36163 incidents were officially recorded across University of Waterloo's administrative area (9942 violent, 21528 property, 4693 minor). These are area-wide official counts, not crimes near campus.
Is it safe to walk around University of Waterloo at night?
We can only speak from recorded data, not predict any specific street or hour. Check the monthly table above and the street-level map in the free StudySafeLink app along your actual route, and follow common precautions (well-lit main roads, share your trip with family).
How can my family keep track of my safety?
With the free StudySafeLink app you can check in with one tap after class or at night; your bound parent gets an instant notification plus a daily reassurance summary, and Trip Guardian can share your journey status (with your consent) when you head home late.
Data: Statistics Canada (census metropolitan area statistics). Monthly counts cover the 12 months to 2025-12; official releases may be revised by publishers. This page is for general reference only and is not safety advice. In an emergency always call 911 in Canada.