Toronto vs Montreal — Crime Rate & Statistics Comparison
Overview
For the period from January 30 to March 31, 2026, Toronto recorded 5,732 incidents, while Montreal recorded 1,960. Assault was the most significant difference, with Toronto reporting 3,028 incidents compared to Montreal's 0.
At a glance
5,732
Toronto incidents
2026-01-30 to 2026-03-31
1,960
Montreal incidents
2026-01-30 to 2026-03-31
Assault
Toronto top category
3,028 incidents
Theft-related incidents
Montreal top category
905 incidents
same date range
Comparison basis
Same-period category differences between Toronto and Montreal
Toronto recorded 5,732 incidents between January 30 and March 31, 2026, while Montreal reported 1,960 incidents during the same period. Both cities published data for the identical 61-day window, allowing for a direct comparison of incident counts and categories.
How they compare
Toronto's incident count was significantly higher than Montreal's during the same period, with assault being the most reported category in Toronto at 3,028 incidents, compared to zero in Montreal. Break and enter incidents were also more frequent in Toronto (1,004) than in Montreal (509). Theft-related incidents were reported in both cities, with Toronto recording 1,343 and Montreal 905. Montreal, however, had 393 mischief incidents, a category not reported in Toronto during this period.
Key stats
Toronto total incidents: 5,732
Montreal total incidents: 1,960
Assault in Toronto: 3,028
Break and enter in Toronto: 1,004
Theft-related incidents in Toronto: 1,343
Mischief in Montreal: 393
Robbery in Toronto: 318
Homicide in Montreal: 3
What these numbers mean
The data highlights stark differences in incident types between the two cities during the same period. Toronto's higher assault and break-and-enter counts contrast with Montreal's mischief incidents. The absence of certain categories in one city versus the other underscores varying reporting or incident patterns. These counts reflect reported incidents and provide a snapshot for the specified period.
About this dataset
Reporting basis: Counts reflect incidents reported to police only. Under-reporting — especially for sexual assault, fraud, and minor theft — means actual incidence is higher than these figures show.
Not a per-capita rate: These are absolute incident counts. Comparing one place’s counts to another without normalising for population can mislead — see crime rates per 100,000 for population-adjusted figures.
Different taxonomies: Cities classify offences slightly differently. Our pipeline normalises labels into 13 standard categories, but the source taxonomies are not identical.
Different reporting windows: Two cities may have different start and end dates. Read side-by-side counts as selected-window incident totals, not population-normalised risk or full-year totals unless the page explicitly says so.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the incident counts different between Toronto and Montreal?
Incident counts vary due to differences in reporting, incident types, and local factors. For example, Toronto reported 3,028 assaults, while Montreal reported none during the same period.
What is included in theft-related incidents?
Theft-related incidents include theft, auto theft, and theft from vehicles. Toronto reported 1,343 such incidents, while Montreal reported 905.
Why does Montreal have mischief incidents while Toronto does not?
The data shows Montreal reported 393 mischief incidents during this period, while Toronto reported none. This could reflect differences in reporting practices or actual incident occurrences.
Can I compare these cities directly?
Yes, because both cities' data cover the same date range (January 30 to March 31, 2026), allowing for a direct comparison of incident counts and categories.
Sources
Data sourced from open-data portals provided by the governments of Ontario and Quebec.
CrimeMaps.ca is an interactive crime map of Canada, aggregating crime incidents from 58+ Canadian cities into a single map. All data is sourced from official municipal and police open-data portals. No account is required.