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

20/100

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 County84/100
Mendocino County61/100
San Benito County50/100
Sierra County50/100
El Dorado County40/100
Nevada County35/100
Sonoma County35/100
Modoc County33/100
Placer County33/100
Ventura County33/100
Mariposa County27/100
Napa County26/100
Kings County26/100
Glenn County26/100
Monterey County25/100
Yuba County25/100
Lassen County24/100
Marin County23/100
Colusa County23/100
Madera County22/100
Imperial County21/100
Tuolumne County21/100
San Diego County20/100
Calaveras County20/100
Amador County19/100
Trinity County19/100
Plumas County17/100
Sutter County17/100
Orange County16/100
San Luis Obispo County16/100
Santa Barbara County16/100
Alpine County15/100
San Mateo County15/100
Butte County15/100
Siskiyou County15/100
Santa Cruz County15/100
Lake County14/100
Inyo County13/100
Contra Costa County13/100
Tulare County12/100
San Bernardino County12/100
Stanislaus County12/100
Riverside County11/100
San Joaquin County11/100
Humboldt County10/100
Yolo County10/100
Mono County10/100
Tehama County9/100
Santa Clara County9/100
Sacramento County8/100
Merced County7/100
Los Angeles County7/100
Del Norte County7/100
Solano County6/100
Fresno County5/100
Kern County3/100
Alameda County2/100
San Francisco County1/100

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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