Top 10 most dangerous cities in California

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California, renowned for its stunning coastline, vibrant cities, and diverse cultural landscape, is a state of contrasts. From the tech hubs of Silicon Valley to the entertainment capital of Los Angeles, California is at the forefront of innovation and creativity. The state's natural beauty is showcased in national parks such as Yosemite and Redwood, offering breathtaking vistas and outdoor adventures. Despite its many attractions, California also grapples with safety issues in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in California are distinguished by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where residents and visitors should exercise caution. The juxtaposition of California's scenic splendor and urban crime challenges highlights the complexities of life in this populous state.

Efforts to mitigate crime in California's cities include a range of strategies from law enforcement enhancements to community-based initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants of crime. The state's diverse population and economic disparities contribute to varying crime rates across different regions. While the most dangerous cities in California present significant safety challenges, the state's proactive approach and community resilience are critical in addressing these issues. California's allure remains strong, with its blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and economic opportunities continuing to attract people from all over the world. Balancing safety and opportunity is a dynamic process that shapes the state's ongoing development.

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Oakland Population: 431,366 1,925 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 52 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,156

Oakland, CA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in California with 1,925 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,158), robbery (680), rape (68) and homicide (19) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 296% higher than the California average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Commerce Population: 13,066 1,448 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,808

The second most dangerous city is Commerce. With a population of 13,066 and a violent crime rate that is 198% higher than the California average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Commerce are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,448 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 69 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Crescent City Population: 6,919 1,386 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,848

Home to 6,919 residents, Crescent City, CA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in California. Unfortunately for residents of Crescent City, crime is widespread, with more than 1,386 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.80 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 185% higher than the California violent crime rate.

Red Bluff Population: 14,432 1,277 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,527

With a violent crime rate that is 163% higher than the California average, it's not hard to see why Red Bluff made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (230), assault (837), rape (202) and homicide (7). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Red Bluff more vulnerable to high crime.

Compton Population: 98,731 1,272 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 79 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,417

The ongoing battle with crime in Compton, CA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,272 and a 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Compton has a violent crime rate that is 162% higher than the California average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Compton.

Emeryville Population: 12,131 1,231 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 14,719

Emeryville, CA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,231 per 100,000 people, which is 153% higher than the California average. Emeryville has a population of 12,131, which translates to 3.37 crimes per day and 1 in 81 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Emeryville which are much safer than others.

Lakeport Population: 5,117 1,180 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,998

A 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.23 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Lakeport makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,180 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 143% higher than the California average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,025), robbery (58), rape (97) and homicide (0).

Stockton Population: 318,307 1,146 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,785

Stockton, CA is another one of the most dangerous cities in California and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 318,307 and a violent crime rate of 1,146 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 753 counts of assault, 336 counts of robbery, 40 counts of rape and 16 counts of homicide. All told, the Stockton violent crime rate is 136% higher than the California average.

Barstow Population: 24,173 1,108 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,747

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Barstow, CA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in California with a violent crime rate of 1,108 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.04 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 90 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Eureka Population: 27,853 1,016 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,187

Rounding out our list at #10 is Eureka, CA. With a population of 27,853 and a violent crime rate of 1,016 per 100,000 people (109% higher than the California average), some parts of Eureka are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 671 counts of assault, 228 counts of robbery, 118 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in California

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Oakland	431,366	1,925	9,156
2	Commerce	13,066	1,448	13,808
3	Crescent City	6,919	1,386	7,848
4	Red Bluff	14,432	1,277	5,527
5	Compton	98,731	1,272	4,417
6	Emeryville	12,131	1,231	14,719
7	Lakeport	5,117	1,180	2,998
8	Stockton	318,307	1,146	3,785
9	Barstow	24,173	1,108	3,747
10	Eureka	27,853	1,016	4,187
11	Victorville	126,104	1,016	3,144
12	Oroville	20,168	981	4,800
13	Corning	7,816	948	2,643
14	Richmond	112,268	923	3,685
15	Needles	5,100	919	3,278
16	Signal Hill	11,866	913	6,831
17	Lynwood	71,286	910	4,118
18	Santa Fe Springs	18,267	906	7,066
19	Parlier	16,139	897	1,864
20	San Bernardino	221,910	897	3,795
21	West Hollywood	36,619	884	6,375
22	Anderson	10,734	842	2,211
23	Lancaster	161,201	835	2,755
24	Clearlake	15,774	829	2,413
25	South Lake Tahoe	23,049	786	2,247
26	Merced	86,383	785	3,577
27	Santa Monica	93,745	778	5,568
28	Huron	7,299	769	1,303
29	Sacramento	520,516	755	3,302
30	Marysville	12,718	745	2,806
31	Vallejo	124,444	740	4,730
32	Dos Palos	5,407	739	2,622
33	Costa Mesa	117,376	738	3,574
34	Hawaiian Gardens	14,656	736	2,839
35	Fresno	543,090	735	4,007
36	Los Angeles	4,130,831	728	2,212
37	Hawthorne	88,587	727	3,193
38	Pomona	156,853	716	3,469
39	Atwater	30,996	710	2,904
40	Yreka	7,814	704	3,149
41	Gardena	61,310	703	3,755
42	Chico	100,994	699	2,597
43	National City	63,422	696	2,635
44	Fort Bragg	7,427	696	3,333
45	Huntington Park	59,591	691	3,812
46	Mendota	12,436	687	1,359
47	Susanville	15,230	687	1,838
48	Chowchilla	19,143	677	1,866
49	Long Beach	480,084	676	4,155
50	Ridgecrest	29,800	676	1,750

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in California is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included California cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.