Top 10 most dangerous cities in California

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.

Commerce Population: 12,738 1,553 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 15,415

Commerce, CA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in California with 1,553 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (840), robbery (594), rape (68) and homicide (51) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 211% 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.

Oakland Population: 422,575 1,521 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 66 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,996

The second most dangerous city is Oakland. With a population of 422,575 and a violent crime rate that is 205% higher than the California average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Oakland are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,521 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 66 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Yreka Population: 7,589 1,500 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 67 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,205

Home to 7,589 residents, Yreka, CA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in California. Unfortunately for residents of Yreka, crime is widespread, with more than 1,500 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.11 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 200% higher than the California violent crime rate.

Grass Valley Population: 12,817 1,245 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,196

With a violent crime rate that is 149% higher than the California average, it's not hard to see why Grass Valley made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (94), assault (1,087), rape (58) 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 Grass Valley more vulnerable to high crime.

Crescent City Population: 6,690 1,218 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,264

The ongoing battle with crime in Crescent City, 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 1,218 and a 1 in 82 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Crescent City has a violent crime rate that is 144% 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 Crescent City.

San Bernardino Population: 216,784 1,186 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,141

San Bernardino, CA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,186 per 100,000 people, which is 137% higher than the California average. San Bernardino has a population of 216,784, which translates to 3.25 crimes per day and 1 in 84 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 San Bernardino which are much safer than others.

Pismo Beach Population: 8,042 1,185 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,841

A 1 in 84 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.25 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Pismo Beach makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,185 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 137% higher than the California average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,048), robbery (100), rape (37) and homicide (0).

Stockton Population: 311,103 1,157 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,901

Stockton, CA is another one of the most dangerous cities in California and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 311,103 and a violent crime rate of 1,157 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 784 counts of assault, 303 counts of robbery, 55 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. All told, the Stockton violent crime rate is 132% higher than the California average.

Compton Population: 95,804 1,141 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,813

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, Compton, CA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in California with a violent crime rate of 1,141 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.12 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Emeryville Population: 11,679 1,111 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 16,196

Rounding out our list at #10 is Emeryville, CA. With a population of 11,679 and a violent crime rate of 1,111 per 100,000 people (122% higher than the California average), some parts of Emeryville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 469 counts of assault, 618 counts of robbery, 23 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 90 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	Commerce	12,738	1,553	15,415
2	Oakland	422,575	1,521	7,996
3	Yreka	7,589	1,500	6,205
4	Grass Valley	12,817	1,245	4,196
5	Crescent City	6,690	1,218	7,264
6	San Bernardino	216,784	1,186	4,141
7	Pismo Beach	8,042	1,185	4,841
8	Stockton	311,103	1,157	3,901
9	Compton	95,804	1,141	3,813
10	Emeryville	11,679	1,111	16,196
11	Barstow	23,547	1,088	3,401
12	Oroville	19,659	1,052	4,636
13	Huron	7,084	1,025	1,842
14	Vallejo	121,275	974	5,206
15	West Hollywood	35,506	948	7,550
16	Victorville	122,958	940	2,753
17	Red Bluff	14,091	915	5,885
18	Sacramento	503,482	902	4,069
19	Adelanto	34,238	896	1,832
20	Richmond	110,051	874	3,583
21	Lancaster	157,697	868	2,744
22	Fresno	526,147	865	4,314
23	Santa Monica	91,600	854	5,386
24	Clearlake	15,329	846	2,970
25	Atwater	30,336	843	3,346
26	Los Angeles	3,973,278	834	3,543
27	Lynwood	69,625	801	3,319
28	Merced	84,081	801	3,543
29	Huntington Park	57,761	792	4,584
30	Taft	9,189	784	3,989
31	Anaheim	353,085	766	3,535
32	Modesto	214,485	762	3,165
33	Fort Bragg	7,279	761	3,975
34	Hawthorne	85,410	753	2,857
35	Parlier	15,645	745	1,897
36	San Pablo	30,959	737	3,159
37	Culver City	38,913	736	6,236
38	Signal Hill	11,430	734	6,913
39	Highland	55,339	727	2,049
40	Santa Cruz	65,011	725	4,336
41	Marysville	12,467	724	2,840
42	Cudahy	23,606	720	2,050
43	Coalinga	17,252	718	1,573
44	El Segundo	16,575	707	6,127
45	Palm Springs	48,390	699	5,655
46	San Francisco	874,784	696	6,942
47	Santa Fe Springs	17,643	667	7,937
48	Desert Hot Springs	29,280	665	2,205
49	Inglewood	109,309	665	3,564
50	Santa Maria	105,528	650	3,425

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.