Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in California: 2018
California is a large and diverse state. The landscape, social climate, and opportunities in one city may be entirely different than in another. Significant differences also exist in violent crime rates. Certain cities are more dangerous than others due to a variety of factors, such as economic opportunity, education, alcohol and drug use, availability of social and family services, gang activity, and much more.
In the most dangerous cities, you are more likely to become a victim of a violent crime. You also may be more likely to face accusations of committing an offense. If you find yourself the focus of criminal allegations, contact an experienced California criminal defense attorney at Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer at (559) 443-7442 to schedule a free case consultation.
Crime Statistics: Volume vs. Rate
One of the ways the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports on crime around the country is to provide the crime volume for certain locations. This is neither the specific number of offenses that occurred in a specific period of time nor the crime rate. Instead, crime volume is a simplified indicator of how frequently a crime occurs.
In regard to murder and non-negligent manslaughter (homicide), robbery, rape, and aggravated assault, the crime volume indicates the number of known victims. For example, Los Angeles had a volume of 58.5 rapes per 100,000 inhabitants. This means there were 58.5 known victims of rape for every 100,000 people.
The crime rate would be the number of reported crimes standardized by population. To determine the crime rate, you divide a city’s population by 100,000 to obtain X. You then divide the number of offenses by X. This gives you the city’s crime rate per 100,000 residents for a specific offense. For example, Los Angeles had a population of 4,007,905. Divide the population by 100,000, and X equals 40.079. Divide the volume of homicides in Los Angeles, 293, by 40.079, and the homicide rate is 7.31 per 100,000 residents.
It is also notable that if a city has less than 100,000 residents, the numbers still reflect a rate of incidents per 100,000 individuals. This has been calculated to maintain consistency and allow for comparison of overall crime rates. All of the cities on this list have at least 50,000 residents. This allows for more uniform comparison of crime rates.
Most Dangerous and Safest Cities in California
The following California cities considered in this study are the most dangerous when comparing total crime rate per 100,000 residents:
- Oakland
- Stockton
- San Bernardino
- Compton
- Modesto
- Richmond
- Vallejo
- Santa Cruz
- Redding
- Madera
The safest California cities on this list of significantly sized cities according to total crime rate per 100,000 people include:
- Garden Grove
- Redlands
- Upland
- Manteca
- Chico
- Elk Grove
- La Mesa
- Downey
- Petaluma
- Pasadena
CITY ▼ | POPULATION | MURDER / HOMICIDE (per 100K) | RAPE (per 100K) | ROBBERY (per 100K) | AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (per 100K) | ALL VIOLENT CRIMES (per 100K) |
|---|
| Anaheim | 353504 | 2 | 34.8 | 110.3 | 194.9 | 342 |
| Antioch | 112090 | 8 | 49.1 | 261.4 | 359.5 | 678 |
| Apple Valley | 72757 | 5.5 | 35.7 | 101.7 | 288.6 | 431.6 |
| Azusa | 50393 | 2 | 35.7 | 91.3 | 218.3 | 347.3 |
| Bakersfield | 378788 | 8.4 | 17.7 | 162.1 | 292.5 | 480.7 |
| Baldwin Park | 77400 | 6.5 | 40.1 | 94.3 | 235.1 | 376 |
| Bellflower | 78806 | 5.1 | 39.3 | 81.2 | 250 | 497.4 |
| Berkeley | 122651 | 1.6 | 44 | 294.3 | 150.8 | 490.8 |
| Carson | 93613 | 10.7 | 24.6 | 176.3 | 327.9 | 539.5 |
| Chico | 91122 | 0 | 72.4 | 62.6 | 186.6 | 321.5 |
| Citrus Heights | 87811 | 3.4 | 43.3 | 100.2 | 304.1 | 451 |
| Colton | 55100 | 3.6 | 18.1 | 177.9 | 186.9 | 386.6 |
| Compton | 98861 | 35.4 | 38.4 | 369.2 | 699 | 1142 |
| Concord | 129903 | 0.8 | 23.9 | 122.4 | 197.1 | 344.1 |
| Costa Mesa | 113816 | 0.9 | 52.7 | 127.4 | 181 | 362 |
| Delano | 52656 | 13.3 | 17.1 | 3.8 | 421.6 | 501.4 |
| Downey | 114704 | 0.9 | 19.2 | 163.9 | 141.2 | 325.2 |
| El Cajon | 104483 | 1 | 44 | 139.7 | 193.3 | 378.1 |
| El Monte | 117354 | 2.6 | 26.4 | 80.1 | 210.5 | 381.8 |
| Elk Grove | 169742 | 0 | 30 | 14.7 | 236.8 | 322.3 |
| Escondido | 152897 | 2.6 | 31.4 | 98.1 | 230.9 | 363 |
| Fairfield | 114521 | 6.1 | 48.9 | 128.4 | 232.3 | 415.6 |
| Fontana | 209531 | 6.7 | 32.9 | 104 | 271.6 | 415.2 |
| Fresno | 524796 | 7.4 | 30.1 | 213.8 | 359.6 | 610.9 |
| Garden Grove | 176230 | 2.3 | 21.6 | 90.8 | 179.9 | 309.3 |
| Gardena | 60770 | 4.9 | 39.5 | 306.1 | 248.5 | 556.2 |
| Gilroy | 54130 | 0 | 55.4 | 105.3 | 175.5 | 336.2 |
| Hanford | 55973 | 3.6 | 37.5 | 78.6 | 355.5 | 475.2 |
| Hawthorne | 89299 | 7.8 | 44.8 | 333.7 | 346 | 732.4 |
| Hayward | 161122 | 8.1 | 41 | 216 | 126.6 | 391.6 |
| Hemet | 84838 | 5.9 | 48.3 | 200.4 | 469.1 | 723.7 |
| Hesperia | 93888 | 3.2 | 32 | 98 | 222.6 | 355.7 |
| Highland | 55184 | 5.4 | 18.1 | 143.2 | 266.4 | 433.1 |
| Huntington Park | 59692 | 3.4 | 46.9 | 361.9 | 363.5 | 775.6 |
| Indio | 89201 | 5.6 | 29.1 | 98.7 | 356.5 | 489.9 |
| Inglewood | 112059 | 14.3 | 50 | 362.3 | 314.1 | 740.7 |
| Jurupa Valley | 101316 | 6.9 | 17.8 | 75 | 235.9 | 335.6 |
| La Mesa | 60681 | 0 | 34.6 | 14.8 | 197.8 | 324.6 |
| Lancaster | 161963 | 4.3 | 45.1 | 21 | 421.7 | 681 |
| Lodi | 65067 | 7.7 | 13.8 | 129.1 | 388.8 | 539.4 |
| Long Beach | 476476 | 6.9 | 41.3 | 238.8 | 310.2 | 597.3 |
| Los Angeles | 4007905 | 7.3 | 58.5 | 257.2 | 396.1 | 719 |
| Lynwood | 72471 | 12.4 | 42.8 | 271.8 | 320.1 | 647.2 |
| Madera | 64753 | 4.6 | 34 | 151.3 | 589.9 | 779.9 |
| Manteca | 77104 | 0 | 38.9 | 118 | 159.5 | 316.5 |
| Merced | 83106 | 1.2 | 42.1 | 161.2 | 383.8 | 588.4 |
| Modesto | 212880 | 6.1 | 48.4 | 225.9 | 707.9 | 988.4 |
| Montebello | 64206 | 0 | 10.9 | 45.2 | 144.8 | 333.3 |
| Moreno Valley | 206224 | 4.4 | 8.2 | 165.4 | 240.5 | 418.5 |
| Napa | 81115 | 1.2 | 46.8 | 57.9 | 258.9 | 364.9 |
| National City | 61550 | 4.9 | 21.1 | 175.5 | 232.3 | 433.8 |
| Norwalk | 107453 | 6.5 | 16.8 | 129.4 | 237.3 | 389.9 |
| Oakland | 424998 | 20 | 65.2 | 723.8 | 616.7 | 1425.7 |
| Oceanside | 177340 | 4.5 | 31.6 | 97 | 227.2 | 360.3 |
| Ontario | 172606 | 4.6 | 18.5 | 131.5 | 194.1 | 348.8 |
| Oxnard | 209048 | 5.7 | 33 | 205.2 | 209.5 | 453.5 |
| Palmdale | 159441 | 5 | 28.2 | 42 | 264.7 | 437.2 |
| Paramount | 55673 | 7.2 | 32.3 | 269.4 | 253.3 | 562.2 |
| Pasadena | 143288 | 1.4 | 32.1 | 114.5 | 184.9 | 332.9 |
| Petaluma | 60933 | 1.6 | 47.6 | 36.1 | 242.9 | 328.2 |
| Pico Rivera | 64469 | 3.1 | 18.6 | 111.7 | 207.9 | 341.2 |
| Pittsburg | 70663 | 9.9 | 59.4 | 164.2 | 159.9 | 393.4 |
| Pomona | 154109 | 8.4 | 44.1 | 191.4 | 253.7 | 497.7 |
| Porterville | 56421 | 0 | 28.4 | 53.2 | 260.5 | 381.1 |
| Rancho Cordova | 72265 | 1.4 | 23.5 | 102.4 | 211.7 | 339 |
| Redding | 91918 | 5.4 | 91.4 | 155.6 | 530.9 | 783.3 |
| Redlands | 71485 | 0 | 51.8 | 106.3 | 156.7 | 314.8 |
| Rialto | 103893 | 3.9 | 21.2 | 153 | 256 | 434.1 |
| Richmond | 110868 | 18.9 | 64.9 | 328.3 | 506.9 | 919.1 |
| Riverside | 325896 | 3.1 | 43.3 | 179.8 | 302.9 | 529 |
| Sacramento | 495471 | 8.3 | 17.8 | 229.3 | 461 | 716.3 |
| Salinas | 158729 | 22.1 | 54.2 | 204.8 | 352.2 | 633.2 |
| San Bernardino | 217303 | 28.5 | 56.6 | 415.5 | 823.7 | 1324.4 |
| San Diego | 1413414 | 3.5 | 40.5 | 0.3 | 235.1 | 377.2 |
| San Francisco | 871155 | 6.5 | 39.3 | 4.4 | 300.3 | 710.6 |
| San Jose | 1041844 | 4.5 | 43.3 | 1.6 | 208.8 | 373.1 |
| San Leandro | 91870 | 3.3 | 33.7 | 1321.4 | 188.3 | 530.1 |
| San Rafael | 59435 | 0 | 47.1 | 74 | 185.1 | 418.9 |
| Santa Ana | 337419 | 6.8 | 42.1 | 151.4 | 277.4 | 477.7 |
| Santa Barbara | 92519 | 0 | 94 | 88.6 | 246.4 | 429.1 |
| Santa Cruz | 64969 | 6.2 | 69.3 | 163.2 | 563.3 | 801.9 |
| Santa Maria | 106200 | 8.5 | 42.4 | 158.2 | 267.4 | 476.5 |
| Santa Monica | 93921 | 2.1 | 42.6 | 201.2 | 259.8 | 505.7 |
| Santa Rosa | 176383 | 2.8 | 53.3 | 68.6 | 248.3 | 373.1 |
| South Gate | 96791 | 5.2 | 30 | 258.3 | 388.5 | 681.9 |
| Stockton | 308348 | 15.9 | 41.5 | 384.3 | 979.1 | 1420.8 |
| Tulare | 62902 | 9.5 | 20.7 | 90.6 | 235.3 | 356.1 |
| Turlock | 73031 | 9.6 | 31.5 | 127.3 | 357.4 | 525.8 |
| Union City | 75501 | 1.3 | 15.9 | 147 | 207.9 | 372.2 |
| Upland | 76956 | 1.3 | 23.4 | 124.7 | 166.3 | 315.8 |
| Vallejo | 122293 | 12.3 | 90.8 | 288.7 | 469.4 | 861 |
| Ventura | 110228 | 7.3 | 48.1 | 98.9 | 179.6 | 333.9 |
| Victorville | 123438 | 5.7 | 37.3 | 181.5 | 381.6 | 606 |
| Visalia | 131186 | 6.1 | 51.8 | 91.5 | 216.5 | 365.9 |
| Vista | 102307 | 2 | 40.1 | 96.8 | 224.8 | 363.6 |
| Watsonville | 54110 | 0 | 48.1 | 85 | 306.8 | 439.8 |
| West Sacramento | 53532 | 0 | 31.8 | 3.7 | 226 | 435.3 |
| Westminster | 92582 | 2.2 | 33.5 | 0 | 194.4 | 333.8 |
| Woodland | 59190 | 5.1 | 23.7 | 91.2 | 248.4 | 368.3 |
| Yuba City | 67198 | 11.9 | 35.7 | 113.1 | 244.1 | 404.8 |
Crime Statistics in the 100 Most Dangerous Cities in California
Out of the more than 480 individual municipalities in California, here are the 100 most dangerous cities within the state with a population of at least 50,000 residents:
Oakland Crime Statistics
Oakland, with a population of only a little more 424,000 people, is known as a violent city, and with good reason. Its total violent crime volume was 1,425.7 per 100,000 people. It had a higher murder volume than San Francisco with 20 reported homicides per 100,000 individuals. Oakland also had 65.2 rapes, 723.8 robberies, and 616.7 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 people in 2016.
Stockton Crime Statistics
Stockton is a mid-sized city with a 2016 population of 308,348. It had 15.9 homicides, 41.5 rapes, 384.3 robberies, and 979.1 aggravated assaults, which resulted in a violent crime volume of 1,420.8 per 100,000 residents.
San Bernardino Crime Statistics
There were 28.5 homicides, 56.6 rapes, 415.5 robberies, and 823.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants in San Bernardino in 2016. This led to a violent crime volume of 1,324.4 per 100,000 people.
Compton Crime Statistics
Compton only had a violent crime volume of 1,142 for every 100,000 residents. There were 35.4 homicides, 38.4 rapes, 369.2 robberies, and 699 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Modesto Crime Statistics
Modesto, a city of a little more than 212,000 people, had a violent crime volume of 988.4 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. There were 6.1 homicides, 48.4 rapes, 225.9 robberies, and 707.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Richmond Crime Statistics
Richmond, a city of only 110,868 people, had a violent crime volume of 919.1 per 100,000 people. This number is made up of 18.9 homicides, 64.9 rapes, 328.2 robberies, and 506.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals.
Vallejo Crime Statistics
Vallejo witnessed 12.3 homicides, 90.8 rapes, 288.7 robberies, and 469.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. The city’s overall crime volume was 861 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Santa Cruz Crime Statistics
Santa Cruz experienced a violent crime volume of 801.9 offenses per 100,000 people. This was the result of 6.2 homicides, 69.3 rapes, 163.2 robberies, and 563.3 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals.
Redding Crime Statistics
Redding has a population under 100,000 people, with only 91,918 residents. It had a violent crime volume of 783.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. This was the result of 5.4 homicides, 91.4 rapes, 155.6 robberies, and 530.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Madera Crime Statistics
Madera had 779.9 offenses per 100,000 people, with 4.6 homicides, 34 rapes, 151.3 robberies, and 589.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. Madera has a population of 64,753.
Huntington Park Crime Statistics
Huntington Park has a population of fewer than 60,000 people. It has a violent crime volume of 775.6 per 100,000 residents, broken down as 3.4 homicides, 46.9 rapes, 361.9 robberies, and 363.5 aggravated assaults.
Inglewood Crime Statistics
As a city of little more than 112,000 people, Inglewood had a violent crime volume of 740.7 offenses per 100,000 people. There were 14.3 homicides, 50 rapes, 362.2 robberies, and 314.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals.
Hawthorne Crime Statistics
Hawthorn had 7.8 homicides, 44.8 rapes, 333.7 robberies, and 346 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals, which led to a violent crime volume of 732.4 per 100,000 people.
Hemet Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Hemet reported 5.9 homicides, 48.3 rapes, 200.4 robberies, and 469.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people, resulting in a violent crime volume of 723.7 per 100,000 residents in 2016.
Los Angeles Crime Statistics
Los Angeles witnessed 7.3 homicides, 58.5 rapes, 257.2 robberies, and 396.1 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals. The city’s total violent crime volume was 719 per 100,000 people. With a population of more than 4 million people, it is an unsurprising volume. Although Los Angeles does not have more crime by volume than any other city, it does have the most total reported violent crimes with 28,817. One of the reasons Los Angeles may have more reported violent crimes than other California cities is because there are so many people in one area.
Sacramento Crime Statistics
Sacramento, a city of 495,471 people, had a violent crime volume of 716.3 per 100,000 people.There were 8.3 homicides, 17.8 rapes, 229.3 robberies, and 461 aggravated assaults.
San Francisco Crime Statistics
San Francisco law enforcement officials received reports of violent crimes at a volume of 710.6 per 100,000 individuals. Broken down by category, the city had (per 100,000 individiuals) 6.5 homicides, 39.3 rapes, 364.5 robberies, and 300.3 aggravated assaults. San Francisco had the second highest total number of violent crimes at 6,190, after Los Angeles.
South Gate Crime Statistics
South Gate, which has a population of less than 97,000, had an overall violent crime volume of 681.9 offenses per 100,000 people. There were 5.2 homicides, 30 rapes, 258.3 robberies, and 388.5 aggravated assaults reported per 100,000 residents.
Lancaster Crime Statistics
Lancaster saw 4.3 homicides, 45.1 rapes, 209.9 robberies, and 421.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals. The violent crime volume was 681 with a total population of 161,963.
Antioch Crime Statistics
Antioch had a violent crime volume of 678 per 100,000 people, as a result of eight homicides, 49.1 rapes, 261.4 robberies, and 359.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Lynwood Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Lynwood reported 12.4 homicides, 42.8 rapes, 271.8 robberies, and 320.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. This led to a violent crime volume of 647.2 per 100,000 people.
Salinas Crime Statistics
Salinas had a violent crime volume of 633.2 offenses per 100,000 people. There were 22.1 homicides, 54.2 rapes, 204.8 robberies, and 252.2 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents.
It is also the final city on the Top 100 list to have a total violent crime count above 1,000 offenses for the entire year.
Fresno Crime Statistics
Fresno, which had a 2016 population of 524,796, had a violent crime volume of 610.9. This broke down to 39 homicides, 158 rapes, 1,122 robberies, and 1,887 aggravated assaults. This is a crime rate of 7.4 homicides, 30.1 rapes, 213.8 robberies, and 359.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Victorville Crime Statistics
Victorville witnessed 5.7 homicides, 37.3 rapes, 181.5 robberies, and 381.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. This led to a violent crime volume of 606 per 100,000 individuals.
Long Beach Crime Statistics
Long Beach had a total violent crime rate of 597.3 per 100,000 people. This broke down into 6.9 homicides, 41.3 rapes, 238.8 robberies, and 310.2 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents.
Merced Crime Statistics
Merced had a low homicide volume with only 1.2 homicides reported per 100,000 people. It also reported 42.1 rapes, 161.2 robberies, and 383.8 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals, resulting in a violent crime volume of 588.4 that year.
Paramount Crime Statistics
Paramount, with a population of less than 56,000, had an overall violent crime volume of 562.2 per 100,000 people. It had 7.2 homicides, 32.3 rapes, 269.4 robberies, and 253.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Gardena Crime Statistics
Gardena had 4.9 homicides, 39.5 rapes, 263.3 robberies, and 248.5 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals. Its violent crime volume was 556.2 per 100,000 people.
Carson Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Carson reported 10.7 homicides, 24.6 rapes, 176.3 robberies, and 327.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. That amounted to a violent crime volume of 539.5 offenses per 100,000 residents.
Lodi Crime Statistics
Lodi had 7.7 homicides, 13.8 rapes, 129.1 robberies, and 388.8 aggravated assaults, resulting in a violent crime volume of 539.4 per 100,000 people.
San Leandro Crime Statistics
San Leandro experienced 3.3 homicides, 33.7 rapes, 304.8 robberies, and 188.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. Its violent crime volume was 530.1 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.
Riverside Crime Statistics
Riverside had a violent crime volume of 529 per 100,000 people. This constituted individual crime volumes of 3.1 homicides, 43.3 rapes, 179.8 robberies, and 302.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Turlock Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Turlock reported 9.6 homicides, 31.5 rapes, 127.3 robberies, and 357.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. The city’s violent crime volume was 525.8 per 100,000 people.
Santa Monica Crime Statistics
Santa Monica had a violent crime volume of 505.7 offenses per 100,000 people, as a result of 2.1 homicides, 42.6 rapes, 201.2 robberies, and 259.8 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents.
Delano Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Delano reported 13.3 homicides, 17.1 rapes, 49.4 robberies, and 421.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants, which resulted in a violent crime volume of 501.4 per 100,000 people.
Pomona Crime Statistics
Pomona had a violent crime volume of 497.7 per 100,000 people. There were 8.4 homicides, 44.1 rapes, 191.4 robberies, and 253.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. The total population of Pomona was 154,109.
Bellflower Crime Statistics
Bellflower had 5.1 homicides, 39.3 rapes, 203 robberies, and 250 aggravated assaults, resulting in a violent crime volume of 497.4 offenses per 100,000 people.
Berkeley Crime Statistics
Berkeley had 1.6 homicides, 44 rapes, 294.3 robberies, and 150.8 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals. Its overall violent crime volume was 490.8 per 100,000 inhabitants that year.
Indio Crime Statistics
Indio, a city of fewer than 90,000 people, had a violent crime rate of 489.9 per 100,000 residents. Its law enforcement officials reported 5.6 homicides, 29.1 rapes, 98.7 robberies, and 356.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Bakersfield Crime Statistics
As a city of 378,788, Bakersfield saw 8.4 homicides, 17.7 rapes, 162.1 robberies, and 292.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. Its violent crime volume was 480.7 per 100,000 residents.
Santa Ana Crime Statistics
Santa Ana’s violent crime volume was 477.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. There were 6.8 homicides, 42.1 rapes, 142 robberies, and 277.4 aggravated assaults reported per 100,000 individuals. Santa Ana, which had a slightly higher population that Riverside, also had more homicides per 100,000 people.
Santa Maria Crime Statistics
Santa Maria, a city of a few less than 65,000 people, had a violent crime volume of 476.5 offenses per 100,000 residents. This broke down to 8.5 homicides, 42.4 rapes, 158.2 robberies, and 267.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Hanford Crime Statistics
Hanford officials reported 3.6 homicides, 37.5 rapes, 78.6 robberies, and 355.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. The violent crime volume was 475.2 per 100,000 people.
Oxnard Crime Statistics
The violent crime volume in Oxnard was 453.5 for every 100,000 people. Law enforcement officials reported 5.7 homicides, 33 rapes, 205.2 robberies, and 209.5 aggravated assaults.
Citrus Heights Crime Statistics
Citrus Heights saw 3.4 homicides, 43.3 rapes, 100.2 robberies, and 304.1 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 people. The total violent crime volume was 451 per 100,000 residents.
Watsonville Crime Statistics
Watsonville has a population of 54,110 people and a total crime rate of 439.8 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. There were no homicides reported in the city; however, there were 48.1 rapes, 85 robberies, and 306.8 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Palmdale Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials reported five homicides, 28.2 rapes, 139.2 robberies, and 264.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents in Palmdale. This resulted in a violent crime volume of 437.2 offenses per 100,000 people.
West Sacramento Statistics
Rialto Crime Statistics
Rialto experienced 3.9 homicides, 21.2 rapes, 153 robberies, and 256 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. Its violent crime volume was 434.1 offenses per 100,000 people.
National City Crime Statistics
National City had 4.9 homicides, 21.1 rapes, 175.5 robberies, and 232.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people, which meant the city’s violent crime volume was 433.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Highland Crime Statistics
Highland had a total population of 55,184 residents and a violent crime rate of 443.1. This was the result of 5.4 homicides, 18.1 rapes, 143.2 robberies, and 266.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Apple Valley Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials for Apple Valley reported 5.5 homicides, 35.7 rapes, 101.7 robberies, and 288.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. That led to a violent crime volume of 431.6 per 100,000 people.
Santa Barbara Crime Statistics
Santa Barbara is the first city to have a total violent crime count under 400, with 397 total violent offenses, or a 429.1 rate per 100,000 residents. Law enforcement officials reported zero homicides, 94 rapes, 88.6 robberies, and 246.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants.
San Rafael Crime Statistics
San Rafael had zero homicides, 47.1 rapes, 186.9 robberies, and 185.1 aggravated assaults, which led to a violent crime volume of 418.9 per 100,000 people in 2016.
Moreno Valley Crime Statistics
There were 4.4 homicides, 8.2 rapes, 165.4 robberies, and 271.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people reported in Moreno Valley. This led to an overall violent crime volume of 418.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Fairfield Crime Statistics
Fairfield had a violent crime volume of 415.6 offenses per 100,000 people. Broken down, this amounts to 6.1 homicides, 48.9 rapes, 128.4 robberies, and 232.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Fontana Crime Statistics
Fontana experienced 6.7 homicides, 32.9 rapes, 104 robberies, and 271.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people, for a total violent crime volume of 415.2 per 100,000 individuals.
Yuba City Crime Statistics
Yuba City saw 11.9 homicides, 35.7 rapes, 113.1 robberies, and 244.1 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents. The overall violent crime volume was 404.8 per 100,000 people.
Pittsburg Crime Statistics
Pittsburg had 9.9 homicides per 100,000 people in 2016 – a higher rate than many other cities of a similar size. The city had 59.4 rapes, 164.2 robberies, and 159.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals. The overall violent crime volume was 393.4 per 100,000 residents.
Hayward Crime Statistics
Hayward is a city of more than 161,000. People saw 8.1 homicides, 41 rapes, 216 robberies, and 126.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. Its violent crime volume was 391.6 offenses per 100,000 residents.
Norwalk Crime Statistics
Norwalk saw 6.5 homicides, 16.8 rapes, 129.4 robberies, and 237.3 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 people. Its violent crime volume was 389.9 offenses per 100,000 individuals.
Colton Statistics
The city of Colton, California has a total population of 55,100 residents. In total, it had a violent crime rate of 386.6 per 100,000 residents, which resulted from 3.6 homicides, 18.1 rapes, 177.9 robberies, and 186.9 aggravated assaults.
El Monte Crime Statistics
El Monte had a violent crime volume of 381.8 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. This was a result of 2.6 homicides, 26.4 rapes, 142.3 robberies, and 210.5 aggravated assaults.
Porterville Crime Statistics
Porterville has a total population of 56,421, and a violent crime rate of 381.1 per 100,000 residents. This is the result of no homicides, 28.4 rapes, 53.2 robberies, and 260.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people in the city.
El Cajon Crime Statistics
Despite El Cajon having a population over 104,000 people, it only reported one homicide per 100,000 people. It also reported 44 rapes, 139.7 robberies, and 193.3 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents, arising to a violent crime volume of 378.1 per 100,000 people.
San Diego Crime Statistics
San Diego is another city in California with a high population. With more than 1.4 million individuals in the city, San Diego had 3.5 homicides, 40.5 rapes, 98.1 robberies, and 235.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. This resulted in a total violent crime volume of 377.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Baldwin Park Crime Statistics
Baldwin Park saw 6.5 homicides, 40.1 rapes, 94.3 robberies, and 235.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. Its overall violent crime volume was 376 per 100,000 residents.
San Jose Crime Statistics
San Jose had a population of 1,041,844, placing it just below San Diego in size and about one-fourth the size of Los Angeles. The violent crime volume was 373.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, which broke down to 4.5 homicides, 43.3 rapes, 116.5 robberies, and 208.8 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Santa Rosa Crime Statistics
Santa Rosa experienced a violent crime volume of 373.1 offenses per 100,000 people. Law enforcement officials reported 2.8 homicides, 53.3 rapes, 68.6 robberies, and 248.3 aggravated assaults that year.
Union City Crime Statistics
Union City experienced 1.3 homicides, 15.9 rapes, 147 robberies, and 207.9 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals. The city’s violent crime volume was 372.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Woodland Crime Statistics
Woodland is a city of 59,190 residents, with a total crime rate of 368.3 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. This was the result of 5.1 homicides, 23.7 rapes, 91.2 robberies, and 248.4 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Visalia Crime Statistics
In 2016, Visalia witnessed 6.1 homicides, 51.8 rapes, 91.5 robberies, and 216.5 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents. This resulted in a violent crime volume of 365.9 offenses per 100,000 people.
Napa Crime Statistics
Napa officials reported 1.2 homicides, 46.8 rapes, 57.9 robberies, and 258.9 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals, which led to a violent crime volume of 364.9 per 100,000 people.
Vista Crime Statistics
In Vista, there were two homicides, 40.1 rapes, 96.8 robberies, and 224.8 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 individuals. That year’s overall violent crime volume was 363.6 offenses per 100,000 people.
Escondido Crime Statistics
There were 2.6 homicides, 31.4 rapes, 98.1 robberies, and 230.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people in Escondido. The total violent crime volume was 363 per 100,000 residents.
Costa Mesa Crime Statistics
Costa Mesa had a violent crime volume of 362 offenses per 100,000 residents, as a result of 0.9 homicides, 52.7 rapes, 127.4 robberies, and 181 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals.
Oceanside Crime Statistics
Oceanside officials reported 4.5 homicides, 31.6 rapes, 97 robberies, and 227.2 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. The city experienced a total violent crime volume of 360.3 per 100,000 people.
Tulare Statistics
Tulare is a California city with 62,902 residents, and an overall violent crime rate of 356.1 per 100,000 residents. This number was the result of 9.5 homicides, 20.7 rapes, 90.6 robberies, and 235.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Hesperia Crime Statistics
Hesperia has a crime volume of 355.7 per 100,000 people. City law enforcement officials reported 3.2 homicides, 32 rapes, 98 robberies, and 222.6 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 residents.
Ontario Crime Statistics
Ontario had 4.6 homicides, 18.5 rapes, 131.5 robberies, and 194.1 aggravated assaults reported for every 100,000 residents. It had a violent crime volume of 348.8 per 100,000 people.
Azusa Statistics
Azusa is a city of 50,393 residents, and a violent crime rate of 347.3 per 100,000 residents. This was the result of two homicides, 35.7 rapes, 91.3 robberies, and 218.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Concord Crime Statistics
Concord reported 0.8 homicides, 23.9 rapes, 122.4 robberies, and 197.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. This amounted to a violent crime volume of 344.1 offenses per 100,000 individuals.
Anaheim Crime Statistics
Anaheim, which is larger than Riverside and Santa Ana, had a violent crime volume of 342. This is a significant drop from Santa Ana’s violent crime volume. In Anaheim, there were only two homicides, 34.8 rapes, 110.3 robberies, and 194.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Pico Rivera Crime Statistics
Pico Rivera is a city of 64,469 residents, and a violent crime rate of 341.2 per 100,000 residents. The city reported 3.1 homicides, 18.6 rapes, 111.7 robberies, and 207.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Rancho Cordova Crime Statistics
Rancho Cordova has a total population of 72,265 residents. It’s total violent crime rate was 339 per 100,000 residents. This number was a result of 1.4 homicides, 23.5 rapes, 102.4 robberies, and 211.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Gilroy Crime Statistics
Gilroy is a city of 54,130 residents and has a total violent crime rate of 336.2 per 100,000 residents. This number was a result of 55.4 rapes, 105.3 robberies, and 175.5 aggravated assaults. The city reported no homicides.
Jurupa Valley Crime Statistics
Law enforcement officials in Jurupa Valley reported 6.9 homicides, 17.8 rapes, 75 robberies, and 235.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. The city had a violent crime volume of 335.6 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Ventura Crime Statistics
Ventura officials reported 7.3 homicides, 48.1 rapes, 98.9 robberies, and 179.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. The total violent crime volume was 333.9 offenses per 100,000 people.
Westminster Crime Statistics
Westminster had 2.2 homicides, 33.5 rapes, 103.7 robberies, and 194.4 aggravated assaults for every 100,000 inhabitants. That led to a violent crime volume of 333.8 per 100,000 individuals.
Montebello Crime Statistics
Montebello is a city of 64,206 residents, with a violent crime rate of 333.3 per 100,000 residents. The city reported no homicides, 10.9 rapes, 45.2 robberies, and 144.8 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Pasadena Crime Statistics
Pasadena had 1.4 homicides, 32.1 rapes, 114.5 robberies, and 184.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people, resulting in a violent crime volume of 332.9 per 100,000 residents.
Petaluma Crime Statistics
Petaluma has a total population of 60,933 residents, and an overall violent crime rate of 328.2 per 100,000 residents. This number was the result of a reported 1.6 homicides, 47.6 rapes, 36.1 robberies, and 242.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Downey Crime Statistics
Downey had 0.9 homicides, 19.2 rapes, 163.9 robberies, 141.2 aggravated assaults, and an overall violent crime volume of 325.2 offenses per 100,000 people in 2016.
La Mesa Crime Statistics
La Mesa is a city of 60,681 residents, with a violent crime rate of 324.6 per 100,000 residents. That number is the result of a reported 34.6 rapes, 14.8 robberies, and 197.8 aggravated assaults. No homicides were reported in La Mesa.
Elk Grove Crime Statistics
Elk Grove is one of the only cities in the top 100 most dangerous California cities to report 0 homicides per 100,000 residents. It also reported 30 rapes, 55.4 robberies, 236.8 aggravated assaults, and an overall violent crime volume of 322.3 per 100,000 people.
Chico Crime Statistics
Chico had zero homicides, 72.4 rapes, 62.6 robberies, and 186.6 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. The city’s overall violent crime volume is 364.9 per 100,000 residents that year.
Manteca Crime Statistics
Manteca is a city of 77,104 residents, and an overall violent crime rate of 316.5 per 100,000 residents. This was a result of a reported 38.9 rapes, 118 robberies, and 159.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. No homicides were reported in Manteca.
Upland Crime Statistics
Upland is a city of 76,956 residents and a violent crime rate of 315.8 per 100,000 residents. That number is the result of a reported 1.3 homicides, 23.4 rapes, 124.7 robberies, and 166.3 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Redlands Crime Statistics
Redlands has a total population of 71,485, and reported no homicides. The overall violent crime rate was 314.8, which was the result of a reported 51.8 rapes, 106.3 robberies, and 156.7 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
Garden Grove Crime Statistics
Garden Grove officials reported 2.3 homicides, 21.6 rapes, 105.5 robberies, and 179.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 inhabitants. Its violent crime volume was 309.3 per 100,000 individuals.
Tips on Staying Safe Wherever You Are
Whether you live in one of California’s most dangerous cities or not, you need to know how to stay safe. A few safety tips that can decrease your risk of becoming a victim of a violent crime include:
- Be aware of your surroundings. Criminals often try to take you by surprise. It helps to keep your phone in your pocket and ear buds at least on a low volume. If you are worried about it being nighttime or walking through a rough neighborhood, do not wear headphones at all.
- Stay in well-lit areas. While you are walking, try and stay in well-let areas. Avoid dark areas, such as stretches of sidewalks without street lamps or alleys.
- Stay in populated areas. When you are walking to and from events, you may have the choice between a faster, quiet route or a longer route that will have more people on it. Choosing the more populated route can be safer since there are more people around to see if someone tries to commit a crime.
- Travel in a group. Any time you need to walk somewhere, it is better to stay in a group. This is particularly important if you have drank alcohol or taken drugs. You are less likely to be as vigilant of your surroundings and slower to react if you are impaired.
- Keep your home secure. Do not leave your doors and windows unlocked when you are not home. An unsecured home is more likely to be burglarized. You are also safer keeping your door locked while you are home. At night, your ground-level windows should be closed and locked.
- Do not open your door to strangers. Once you open your door, it is easier for someone to force their way in. Use your peephole, and if you do not have one, do not be afraid to ask who is there through the door. If you do not recognize the person or their voice, do not open the door at all. If the person says they are a service or utility person that you were not expecting, contact their employer before letting them in.
- Be careful of where you meet online acquaintances. It is common to meet people online these days, particularly with dating apps. If you choose to meet someone who you have been talking to online, pick a public area and meet there.
Have You Been Accused of a Crime?
If you have been accused of committing, have been arrested for, or charged with a violent crime, you need an experienced defense attorney from Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer on your side. Wherever you are within the criminal justice system, you will benefit from having a lawyer. If accusations have yet to lead to an arrest or charges, then your lawyer will protect you during a police investigation and may increase the chance that you never face charges. If you have been charged by prosecutors or indicted by a grand jury, then your lawyer will build you an aggressive defense, which may include fighting for prosecutors to drop the charges, have the court dismiss the charges, or establishing your innocence at trial.
Talk to a Fresno Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
To discuss how a lawyer can help when you are facing criminal allegations, contact our criminal defense law firm in Fresno at (559) 443-7442 to schedule a free, initial case consultation.