Merced County Crime & Safety
Merced County, California
FBI UCRSafety Score
7/100
Higher = safer
Safety Rating
High Crime
Total Crime Rate
3075.9
per 100K population
Crime Statistics
Violent Crime Rate
648.3
per 100K population
National avg 380.7
Property Crime Rate
2427.6
per 100K population
National avg 1954.4
Safety Score
7/100
Higher = safer
State avg 20/100
State Safety Rank
#51
of 58 counties (1 = safest)
Data Story
About Crime & Safety in Merced County, California
Merced County Crime Rates Above National Average
Merced County reports 3,075.9 total crimes per 100,000 residents, which is roughly 29% higher than the national average. This results in a safety score of 95.1.
Safety Ranking Lower Than State Average
Merced's safety score of 95.1 falls below the California state average of 96.3. The county faces higher crime challenges than many of its Central Valley neighbors.
Crime Higher Than Neighboring Madera
The crime rate in Merced (3,075.9) is significantly higher than in neighboring Madera County (2,026.2). Local law enforcement from 12 agencies manages these higher crime volumes.
Violent and Property Crimes Above Average
Violent crime sits at 648.3 per 100,000, nearly double the national rate. Property crime is also high at 2,427.6, compared to the national average of 2,015.7.
Security Awareness Crucial in Merced
With higher property crime rates, residents should take active steps to secure their homes. Comprehensive security systems and reinforced entry points are effective ways to deter criminal activity.
Crime Advisory: Merced County
Safety Verdict
Merced County has a safety score of 7/100, indicating a higher crime area with elevated overall crime (3075.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, 2022 data).
Violent vs. Property Crime
Violent crime stands at 648.3 per 100K and property crime at 2427.6 per 100K (2022 data). In this county, property crime is notably higher.
Data Coverage
This data reflects partial coverage from 12 law enforcement agencies in Merced County for 2022. Figures may underrepresent actual crime levels due to incomplete reporting.
State Comparison
Compared to the rest of California, total crime is 31% above the California average and its safety score is 13 points below the state mean.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.