crimebycounty

California Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 58 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

469.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

1886.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

96/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in California

National Context

California Crime Rates Track Near National Average

California’s average total crime rate of 2,355.2 per 100K residents sits slightly below the national benchmark of 2,385.5. This positioning places the Golden State in the middle of the national safety spectrum while maintaining 100% reporting coverage across all 58 counties.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Offenses Drive Majority of Reported Crime

Property crime accounts for 1,886.0 incidents per 100K residents, making it the primary concern for most Californians. While the violent crime rate of 469.1 per 100K exceeds the national average of 369.8, non-violent offenses remain the far more common experience for residents.

Safest Counties

Shasta, Mendocino, and San Benito Lead in Safety

Shasta County reports the state's lowest total crime rate at just 383.3 per 100K, significantly outperforming regional peers. Mendocino and San Benito counties also stand out as safety leaders, with total crime rates of 890.9 and 1,122.8 respectively.

Crime Hotspots

Urban Centers Show Higher Concentration of Incidents

San Francisco and Alameda counties record the state's highest total crime rates, largely driven by property offenses in dense urban areas. Kern County also reports elevated activity with 4,050.8 total crimes per 100K, reflecting the complex safety challenges facing California's more populous regions.

The Takeaway

A Diverse Landscape for Personal Safety

California offers a varied safety profile where risks fluctuate significantly between quiet rural enclaves and bustling metropolitan hubs. Prospective residents find that while urban totals are high, many counties maintain crime rates well below national norms.

All California Counties

CountySafety Score
Shasta County99/100
Mendocino County99/100
San Benito County98/100
Sierra County98/100
El Dorado County98/100
Nevada County98/100
Sonoma County98/100
Modoc County98/100
Placer County98/100
Ventura County98/100
Mariposa County97/100
Glenn County97/100
Kings County97/100
Napa County97/100
Lassen County97/100
Monterey County97/100
Yuba County97/100
Colusa County97/100
Marin County97/100
Imperial County97/100
Madera County97/100
Tuolumne County97/100
Amador County97/100
Calaveras County97/100
San Diego County97/100
Trinity County97/100
Orange County96/100
Plumas County96/100
San Luis Obispo County96/100
Sutter County96/100
Santa Barbara County96/100
Alpine County96/100
Butte County96/100
San Mateo County96/100
Santa Cruz County96/100
Siskiyou County96/100
Lake County96/100
Contra Costa County96/100
Inyo County96/100
San Bernardino County96/100
Tulare County96/100
Riverside County96/100
Stanislaus County96/100
Humboldt County96/100
San Joaquin County96/100
Mono County96/100
Yolo County96/100
Santa Clara County95/100
Tehama County95/100
Sacramento County95/100
Los Angeles County95/100
Merced County95/100
Del Norte County95/100
Solano County95/100
Fresno County94/100
Kern County94/100
Alameda County92/100
San Francisco County90/100

Crime rates per 100K population. — = data pending.

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Data Sources

Crime data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) and County Health Rankings. Safety scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Not legal or security advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.

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