Exercise Increased Caution
“Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise increased caution in the United Kingdom due to terrorism.”
Updated Thu, 08 May 2025
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Is Ann Arbor safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Ann Arbor scores 74/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Ann Arbor is generally safe for visitors, with low violent crime but moderate property crime concentrated near campus and downtown after dark. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Ann Arbor 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 29 September 2026
74
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~78% of countries
What drives this score
Crime67/100FairCrime index 49.2 / 100
Sentiment65/100FairModerately positive
Advisories85Good
Stability75Good
Health78Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-08-18T09:29:04Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-09-28T13:39:06.6647711-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
60 / 100 (Moderately positive)
60
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
117k residents
85
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
62
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging risk is low overall but increases after dark in downtown and campus areas; recent reports note isolated incidents involving suspects fleeing police
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded settings like University of Michigan events, downtown streets, and public transit hubs
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Moderately positive
65/100
Reported feel60Moderately positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
About 60% of visitors report feeling safe walking alone after dark, reflecting general confidence but noticeable caution in less populated or poorly lit areas at night.
Yes — Ann Arbor is generally safe for visitors, with low violent crime but moderate property crime concentrated near campus and downtown after dark.
Ann Arbor's safety profile shows a composite index of 79/100, driven by strong institutions, low terrorism risk, and good health/environment scores, though crime (69/100) and personal safety perceptions (60% feel safe walking alone after dark) indicate moderate risks. Recent reports note theft and occasional robberies, especially in university areas, but violent crime remains below national averages.
Recent developments
- Sep 2026Robbery suspect led police on a chase that caused a U.S. 23 ramp closure in Ann Arbor— mlive.com
- Aug 2026Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti ranked in the top 50 for most violent areas in Michigan based on crime data— mlive.com
- Jun 2026Ann Arbor man faced illegal firearms charge after posting on social media— CBS News
Common scams
- IRS identity theft scams reported via fake calls or emails targeting residents and visitors
- Fake petition or donation scams in busy campus or downtown areas
Full briefing
Ann Arbor remains a generally safe destination for travelers, particularly due to its strong institutional scores, low terrorism risk, and excellent health and environment ratings. The city benefits from a visible police presence — including University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Washtenaw County patrols — and emergency infrastructure like campus blue-light phones. While violent crime is relatively rare and well below national averages, property crimes such as theft, burglary, and occasional robberies are more common, especially in and around the university campus and downtown areas after dark. Recent dossier items confirm this trend, including a September 2026 robbery suspect pursuit that closed a U.S. 23 ramp and an August 2026 ranking placing Ann Arbor among Michigan’s top 50 areas for violent crime, though this reflects state-level comparisons rather than national danger.
Travelers should exercise standard urban precautions: keep valuables secure, use cross-body bags in crowded settings like campus events or downtown streets, and avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit or less populated neighborhoods. Bicycle theft is a known issue — always lock bikes, and never leave bags unattended in libraries, cafes, or academic buildings. Scams to watch for include IRS identity theft attempts (reported by the city’s official fraud page) and fake petition or donation schemes in high-foot-traffic zones. Despite these risks, the overall environment is welcoming and secure for visitors who stay alert, particularly during daylight hours and in well-populated areas. The city’s safety is further supported by good air quality, low extreme weather risk in September, and accessible medical facilities.
Was this Ann Arbor, United States report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Ann Arbor districts for visitors: 4 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Ann Arbor safety map.
Downtown Ann ArborcautionGenerally safe daytime; petty theft and occasional robberies reported after dark, especially near campus and bars.
University of Michigan Central CampuscautionSafe during day; increased petty theft and rare assaults after dark, particularly near libraries and dorms.
South University AreacautionPopular with students; higher reports of theft and occasional altercations late at night near bars.
Briarwood Mall vicinitycautionRetail hub; moderate theft risk from vehicles and shoplifting, especially evenings.
KerrytownsaferHistoric district with shops and markets; low crime, well-patrolled, safe day and night.
North Campus (University of Michigan)saferModern research and engineering facilities; low incident reports, good lighting, regular patrols.
Old West SidesaferHistoric residential neighborhood; very low crime, family-friendly, safe at all times.
Gallup ParksaferRecreational area along Huron River; well-maintained, popular with families, low crime reported.
07 · After Dark
Is Ann Arbor safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging risk is low overall but increases after dark in downtown and campus areas; recent reports note isolated incidents involving suspects fleeing police
After dark, be most careful around Downtown Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Central Campus, South University Area, Briarwood Mall vicinity. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Ann Arbor safety FAQ (2026)
Is Ann Arbor safe right now (2026)?
Yes — Ann Arbor is generally safe for visitors, with low violent crime but moderate property crime concentrated near campus and downtown after dark. Ann Arbor's safety profile shows a composite index of 79/100, driven by strong institutions, low terrorism risk, and good health/environment scores, though crime (69/100) and personal safety perceptions (60% feel safe walking alone after dark) indicate moderate risks. Recent reports note theft and occasional robberies, especially in university areas, but violent crime remains below national averages. (Assessed 29 September 2026.)
Is Ann Arbor safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Ann Arbor report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Ann Arbor should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Ann Arbor (2026)?
- IRS identity theft scams reported via fake calls or emails targeting residents and visitors
- Fake petition or donation scams in busy campus or downtown areas
How does Ann Arbor compare with other places in United States (2026)?
Ann Arbor ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 74/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this ann-arbor safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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4 reportsBrowse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: ann-arbor.json (CC BY 4.0).