A safe place to live in Ontario? New crime data tells you where 

Of all of the 12 major metropolitan areas of Ontario, one area has continually come out on top for having the lowest level of crime.

And they have done it again.

Halton Region, located between Toronto and Hamilton, had the lowest overall crime severity in 2024 when compared to other large policing jurisdictions in the province.

Halton is comprised of the City of Burlington and the Towns of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.

The data comes by way of Statistics Canada and was just released by Halton Regional Police. It compares what is known as “Ontario’s Big 12″ jurisdictions, comprised of Halton, Durham Region, Greater Sudbury, Hamilton, London, Niagara Region, Ottawa, Peel Region, Toronto, Waterloo Region, Windsor and York Region.

Numbers indicated that Halton had the lowest violent crime severity index (CSI) when compared to the Big 12 police services.

CSI measures the severity of police-reported crime from year to year. It factors in changes in the number of a particular crime and the relative seriousness of that crime in comparison to other crimes.

As well, Halton had the lowest overall crime rate, as well as the lowest violent and non-violent crime severity rating

Halton has maintained the lowest ratings in these categories for 17 straight reporting years.

Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner said he was proud of the track record, but insisted that work still needs to be done.

“While our service is pleased that Halton region once again recorded the lowest Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime CSI, and Non-Violent Crime CSI overall among the ‘Big 12’ in 2024, we are acutely aware of the profound impacts that serious crimes such as home invasions, auto theft, and guns & gangs have on our community, our province, and on those we serve,” said Tanner. “To address it and to ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of citizens at home and beyond, we will continue to deploy considerable resources to these and other priority issues.”

Numbers show that in the first six months of 2025, overall crime in Halton Region is down 11.7 per cent per 100,000 residents. Property crimes (e.g. break and enters and auto theft) have also decreased by a combined 15.9 per cent year-over-year when adjusted for population growth.

Among the other policing data just released on crime for the first six months of 2025 in Halton, compared to the same period in 2024:

• A 32 per cent decrease in auto theft, with 254 fewer vehicles stolen (approximately 40 fewer per month);
• A 4 per cent reduction in thefts (129 fewer)
• 26 per cent fewer break and enters (138 fewer)
• A 12.5 per cent decrease in incidents of property crime
• 13 per cent fewer cases of reported fraud
• A 21 per cent reduction in mischief

While overall violent crime is up 2 per cent in Halton, it is down 2 per cent when population growth is factored in.

Crime solving has also increased in Halton with a clearance rate rising from 34.5 per cent to 37.8 cent in the first six months of this year, a number that Tanner attributes to increased personnel and resources, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and greater community mobilization.

“Halton’s strong safety record reflects the combined efforts of our residents, police, governments, and community partners. But crime remains too high, and we must not become complacent,” said Jeff Knoll, Chair, Halton Police Board. “Together, we must keep reducing crime, holding offenders accountable, and supporting victims. The Board is committed to ensuring that our Service and community have the resources and resolve to keep Halton a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”

More data on policing and crime in Ontario can be found here.