Salinas, CA Crime Rates

An Overview of Crime Rates in Salinas, CA

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Salinas crime rate is lower than the national average by 5.4%. Specifically, there were 845 violent crimes in Salinas, equivalent to 521 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 40.9%. Furthermore, Salinas recorded 2720 property crimes, amounting to 1677 per 100,000 residents, which was lower than the average by 14.2%.

When assessing the total crime rate in Salinas per 100,000 people, it stands in the median range among all cities with reported crime data. Our analysis of total incidents, encompassing both violent and property crimes within Salinas, underscores the close alignment of reported crime rates with the national average as reported by other areas.

Vehicle thefts across all of America are on the rise and Salinas has one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. In the most recent crime report, Salinas reported 685 vehicle thefts, which equates to 422 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This falls in the bottom 10% of all cities, meaning that 90% of cities have better vehicle theft rates. The chance of having your vehicle stolen in Salinas is 1 in 237.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Salinas?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Salinas. Based on the results of the surveys (112 responses), 20% of people felt that there was very little crime in Salinas and felt safe walking alone at night. While 80% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Salinas a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Salinas a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Salinas crime rate is 5% lower than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 9.77 crimes per day - 2.32 violent crimes and 7.45 property crimes.

Has Crime in Salinas Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Salinas has decreased by 18% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Salinas is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 2.4%, while property crime has decreased by 21.9%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Salinas.

Potential Causes for Crime in Salinas

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Salinas crime rate. The poverty level in Salinas is 14.2%, while the national average is 15.1%.

Highly populated regions typically encompass expansive urban hubs teeming with diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, giving rise to enclaves of poverty amid affluence. Communities marked by economic disparities may contend with heightened property crimes, and in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, regions characterized by low population density often exhibit lower Salinas crime rates. For instance, in Salinas, the population density stands at 6641.6 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Salinas has a median home price of $451,000, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Salinas crime map