The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in California

Best and Worst Cities for Property and Violent Crime

Property Crime

Hidden Hills in Los Angeles County and Dunsmuir in Siskiyou County share the lowest property crime rate at 238 incidents per 100,000 residents. Hidden Hills, an exclusive gated community, likely benefits from stringent security measures. Due to its close-knit community and geographical isolation, Dunsmuir, a smaller, more remote city, might experience lower property crime. Stallion Springs, a census-designated place in Kern County, also had a low property crime rate of 244 per 100,000 residents.

On the other hand, Colma is a city facing some major challenges. It tops the list for property crime with a high rate of 64,134 incidents per 100,000 residents. Nicknamed the “City of Souls,” Colma is home to about a thousand more gravestones than living residents due to the several cemeteries within the town. The Bay Area town was founded as a necropolis in 1924. Today, only about 1,600 people reside there, giving rise to the cheeky slogan: “It’s great to be alive in Colma.”

California cities with the highest and lowest crime rates

(per 100,000 people)

Note: Excluding cities with crime rates of zero. Source: 2023 FBI Data

Violent Crime

The pinnacle of safety in California, Palos Verdes Estates, stands out with just eight violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents — an incredibly low rate. This affluent coastal community in Los Angeles County is known for its residential character, strong sense of community, and proactive public safety measures. Similarly, Wheatland, a smaller city in Yuba County, and the incorporated town of Villa Park in Orange County, with rates of 26 and 35 per 100,000, respectively, also demonstrate remarkably low levels of violent crime.

Oakland, however, struggles with high crime. It has an annual violent crime rate of 3,641 incidents per 100,000 residents. Located in the East Bay, Oakland's struggles with crime are multifaceted. Much of the crime stems from economic struggles, social inequities, gentrification, and urbanization. Oakland's history reveals socioeconomic disparities and complex social dynamics that go back decades.¹

Irwindale, a smaller city in Los Angeles County, also experienced a great deal of violent crime, with a rate of 2,016 incidents per 100,000. Its industrial and commercial nature and a smaller permanent residential population might contribute to this higher rate.

Statewide Crime Trends Analysis

California crime rates present a complex picture when analyzed at the state level. Even its various rankings are eye-openers. Did you know California is the No. 1 state for tourism and has the fourth-largest economy in the world?² Yet, when it comes to crime, it ranks 6th for violent crime and 8th for property crime out of the 50 states.

Property crime rates

(per 100,000 residents)

• Burglary rates are 38.6 percent above the national average.
• Larceny-theft rates are 8.8 percent above the national average.
• Vehicle theft rates are 60.7 percent above the national average.

Violent Crime Rates

(per 100,000 residents)

• California's murder rate is 12.3  percent below the national average.
• The rape rate is 4.2 percent below national average.
• The robbery rate is 92.9 percent above the national average. It's indicative of a much greater prevalence of theft involving force or criminal threats.
• The aggravated assault rate is 28.2 percent above the national average. It's one of the most commonly committed violent crimes in the state.

In California, violent crime rose nearly 2 percent between 2022 and 2023, and was 40 percent higher than the national average. In contrast, the property crime rate was 21 percent above the national average but showed a 0.8 percent year-over-year decrease. This positive sign might be due to changes in security measures and reporting practices, leading to enhanced resident protections. More targeted law enforcement efforts also contribute to the decrease.

California Crime: Future and Past

Historically, California has experienced periods of rapid growth and social change, which can sometimes correlate with fluctuations in crime rates.

While California's current crime rates are above the national average, the state also experienced this broader trend of decline from the mid-1990s into the 2010s. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) notes that after a peak in the early 1990s, violent crime in California fell steadily, reaching a 50-year low in 2014.³ Property crime also saw significant decreases during this period. This longer-term perspective helps to understand that the recent slight increase in violent crime deviates from a more extended period of improvement.

Today, California faces ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable, high-quality education for all its students. Enrollment has decreased recently, and studies consistently find a negative correlation between education and poverty.⁴ Research already suggests that the higher the poverty rate, the higher the crime rate may become.⁵

Data overwhelmingly support the idea that education plays a significant role in reducing crime.⁶ The associated socioeconomic challenges and limited opportunities are one example of what increased poverty, lower education access, and crime have in common.

People living in poverty struggle to find affordable housing in California. A Livable Cities Lab (LCL) study finds that affordable housing decreases crime rates, increasing those communities' property values.⁷ The state is one of the most populated, with over 39 million residents, making up just over 11 percent of the nation's population.⁸

Despite California's current crime rates, it is still well-known and beloved for its golden beaches, diverse cultures, and welcoming communities. After all, it remains a top destination for tourists from around the world.

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5), while metro area data comes from Table 6, which breaks down offenses by metropolitan statistical areas. For city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.

Important note: Crime statistics offer valuable insights, but they aren’t the only way to evaluate a community’s safety. Local context, law enforcement practices, and reporting standards can all influence how crime is recorded. Additionally, FBI publication tables and the data displayed on the Crime Data Explorer may differ slightly due to variations in methodology.