F
44%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
42%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
45%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2023 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2024; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleSan Rafael/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,956n/a (estimate)3,2932,8342,281
Murder0n/a0.05.05.7
Rape43n/a72.436.438.0
Robbery79n/a133.0128.366.5
Assault185n/a311.4338.6264.1
Violent crime307n/a (estimate)517508364
Burglary153n/a257.6347.4250.7
Theft1,058n/a1,781.11,466.01,347.2
Vehicle theft438n/a737.4512.2318.7
Property crime1,649n/a (estimate)2,7762,3261,917

An Overview of Crime Rates in San Rafael, CA

The San Rafael crime rates are 52.8% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 323 violent crimes in San Rafael (535 per 100,000 people), which is 44.6% higher than the national average and there were a total of 1822 property crimes (3017 per 100,000 residents) which is 54.4% higher than average.

The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and San Rafael faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 554 vehicle thefts, translating to 917 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places San Rafael in the bottom 10% among all cities, signifying that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The likelihood of experiencing a vehicle theft is 1 in 110.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in San Rafael?

AreaVibes surveyed 37 local residents in San Rafael to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 46% of people answered that there was very little crime in San Rafael and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 54% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is San Rafael a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in San Rafael, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. San Rafael presents a total crime rate that is 53% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, San Rafael experiences an average of 5.88 daily crimes, comprising 0.88 violent incidents and 4.99 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in San Rafael Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in San Rafael crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in San Rafael has increased by 0.2% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 41.1% and property crime has increased by 4.7%.

Potential Causes for Crime in San Rafael

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in San Rafael crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. San Rafael has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

San Rafael has a population density of 3567.7 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower San Rafael crime rates.

Rising cost of living expenses, including increased housing costs, grocery, utility and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards crime, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In San Rafael, the cost of living is 91.77% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

San Rafael crime map



The San Rafael crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in San Rafael as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The San Rafael crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the San Rafael crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

Compare San Rafael, CA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • San Rafael crime rates are 44% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in San Rafael are 42% higher than the national average
      • In San Rafael you have a 1 in 31 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • San Rafael is safer than 13% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in San Rafael has decreased by 7%

      San Rafael, CA Crime Quiz

      • 1. Which city in California has the least crime per 100,000 people?
      • 2. Which city in California has the most crime per 100,000 people?
      • 3. How many crimes (per 100,000 people) occur in San Rafael each year?
      • 4. Is the San Rafael crime rate higher or lower than the California average?
      • 5. San Rafael is safer than 19% of all other cities in California.
       
      1 / 5

      Safest Places to Live in and Around San Rafael

      30 km
      20 mi
      San Rafael Your current location Population: 59,178 F Ross City: 3.2mi / 5.2km away Population: 2,453 A+ Belvedere City: 7.6mi / 12.3km away Population: 2,246 A+ Black Point-Green Point City: 8.9mi / 14.4km away Population: 1,738 A+ Woodacre City: 7.3mi / 11.8km away Population: 1,464 A+ Sleepy Hollow City: 4.9mi / 7.9km away Population: 2,366 A+ Tiburon City: 7.0mi / 11.3km away Population: 9,167 A+ Mill Valley City: 5.4mi / 8.7km away Population: 14,456 A+ Fairfax City: 4.8mi / 7.8km away Population: 7,629 A+ Kentfield City: 4.2mi / 6.8km away Population: 7,423 A+ Strawberry City: 6.2mi / 10.0km away Population: 5,325 A+ Lucas Valley-Marinwood City: 5.6mi / 9.0km away Population: 6,738 A+ Corte Madera City: 3.4mi / 5.5km away Population: 9,793 A Larkspur City: 3.1mi / 4.9km away Population: 12,363 A Tamalpais-Homestead Valley City: 7.2mi / 11.7km away Population: 12,331 A San Anselmo City: 3.4mi / 5.5km away Population: 12,623 A Alto City: 5.3mi / 8.4km away Population: 818 A- Muir Beach City: 9.2mi / 14.8km away Population: 360 A- Stinson Beach City: 8.8mi / 14.2km away Population: 583 A- San Geronimo City: 8.7mi / 14.0km away Population: 176 A- Marin City City: 7.6mi / 12.2km away Population: 3,040 A- Sausalito City: 8.5mi / 13.7km away Population: 7,177 B Santa Venetia City: 1.7mi / 2.8km away Population: 3,891 B Novato City: 7.5mi / 12.1km away Population: 53,781 B Montalvin Manor City: 9.7mi / 15.6km away Population: 2,490 C Rollingwood City: 9.7mi / 15.6km away Population: 3,612 C
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      Daily Crime In San Rafael (per 100,000 people)

      The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in San Rafael, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for San Rafael are 1.16 times more than the California average and 1.44 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in San Rafael are 1.02 times more than than California and 1.42 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in San Rafael are 1.19 times more than than California and 1.45 times more than the national average.

      How Safe is San Rafael (higher is better)

      Are people any safer living in San Rafael in comparison to other California communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is San Rafael safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show San Rafael being safer than 19% of cities in California and 13% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking California cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to San Rafael. In conclusion, San Rafael ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

      Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in San Rafael

      The chance of being a victim of violent crime in San Rafael is 1 in 194
      The chance of being a victim of property crime in San Rafael is 1 in 37
      The chance of being a victim of crime in San Rafael is 1 in 31
      Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in San Rafael? If you reside in San Rafael, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 194. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 37 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in San Rafael, is 1 in 31.

      Year Over Year Crime In San Rafael (per 100,000 people)

      An ideal indicator of whether San Rafael is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in San Rafael has decreased by 3% and the rate of property crime in San Rafael has decreased by 8%. The total crime rate in San Rafael has decreased by 7% year to year.

      San Rafael police department

      Item San Rafael California National
      Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)7851,506558,732
      Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.33.63.3
      There are a total of 78 San Rafael police officers. This results in 1.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 63.3% less than the California average and 59.2% less than the National average.

      Sex offenders in California

      State Total offenders California /100K National /100K
      California79,891232266
      There are a total of 79,891 sex offenders in California. This yields a total of 232 sex offenders in California per 100,000 residents which is 13% less than the national average.

      Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

      City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
      Black Point-Green Point, CA1,73871326398
      Bolinas, CA1,22371326398
      Woodacre, CA1,46471326398
      Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA1,87471326398
      Sleepy Hollow, CA2,36680365445
      East Richmond Heights, CA3,47397443540
      Marin City, CA3,04097443540
      San Rafael, CA59,1785172,7763,293

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
      Fountainebleau, FL59,1743151,6471,963
      St. Clair Shores, MI59,1841481,0341,182
      Brookline, MA59,22365789854
      Bartlett, TN59,2522451,8252,070
      Royal Oak, MI59,2561619351,096
      San Rafael, CA59,1785172,7763,293
      Source: The San Rafael, CA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2023. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.