Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities in California [2025]

California’s Crime Hotspots: Where Safety Takes a Hit

California is known for its beaches, tech hubs, and Hollywood glitz—but not every city in the Golden State is a picture of safety. In fact, several cities face serious crime problems, with some consistently ranking among the most dangerous in the entire U.S.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the top 20 most dangerous cities in California, based on the latest crime data. Whether you’re a traveler, new resident, or just curious, this list will give you a heads-up on where caution is key.

🔍 Data Source: Crime statistics are based on the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data and crime indexes from NeighborhoodScout.

Understanding the Data

This list is based on the most recent finalized crime statistics available, specifically from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program for the year 2023. The FBI released this data in September 2024, providing comprehensive insights into crime trends across the United States .​FBIFBI

Additionally, NeighborhoodScout, a reputable source for crime data analytics, utilizes this finalized FBI data to offer detailed crime risk assessments for cities and neighborhoods. Their analyses are based on the most up-to-date and fully-vetted data available, ensuring accuracy in reporting .​NeighborhoodScoutNeighborhoodScout

It’s important to note that while this article is published in 2025, the crime data reflects statistics from the 2023 calendar year. The final, non-preliminary data for 2024 is scheduled for release in the fall of 2025. Therefore, the information presented here represents the most current and reliable data available at the time of writing.

How We Ranked These Cities

We looked at:

• Violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault)
• Property crime rates (burglary, theft, vehicle theft)
• Per-capita statistics to ensure fair comparison between large and small cities

Let’s dive into the list, starting from number 20.

20. Richmond, CA

• Population: ~110,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 9.4 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 33.5 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Richmond has made progress in reducing homicides, but assaults and robberies remain high, especially in certain neighborhoods. The city is actively working on community programs, but safety is still a concern.

19. San Bernardino, CA

• Population: ~220,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 11.1 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 30.2 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Once topping national charts for violence, San Bernardino continues to struggle with gang-related crime and poverty. It’s working toward revitalization, but it still has a long way to go.

18. Inglewood, CA

• Population: ~107,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 8.9 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 27.6 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Known for the new SoFi Stadium and ongoing development, Inglewood is rising—but so are concerns about theft and violent crime in certain areas.

17. Oakland, CA

• Population: ~440,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 12.2 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 45.3 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Oakland has long battled crime, with car theft, burglary, and assaults leading the stats. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, but caution is advised.

16. Merced, CA

• Population: ~90,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 7.8 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 36.1 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Merced’s central location hasn’t shielded it from rising crime rates. High unemployment and drug-related activity have fueled property crime in recent years.

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Awesome—let’s keep going! Here are cities #15 through #1 on our list of the Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities in California.

15. Fresno, CA

• Population: ~545,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 7.3 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 32.7 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Fresno often lands in the top tier for California crime. Gang activity and poverty contribute to a high rate of assaults and car thefts. Police continue to push community policing efforts, but challenges remain.

14. Stockton, CA

• Population: ~322,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 9.8 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 35.6 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Stockton’s history with financial hardship and gang violence keeps crime elevated. While some neighborhoods are seeing improvement, many still face safety issues.

13. Bakersfield, CA

• Population: ~410,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 7.5 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 40.9 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Bakersfield is known for a high rate of car theft and burglary. Violent incidents are also above the national average, putting the city on watch for crime prevention strategies.

12. Compton, CA

• Population: ~95,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 11.7 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 28.3 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Compton has long been associated with crime in the media—and while things have improved, the city still battles gang violence and theft-related issues.

11. Modesto, CA

• Population: ~217,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 38.6 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: With a high property crime rate and rising violent offenses, Modesto faces challenges with drugs, gang influence, and economic instability.

10. Vallejo, CA

• Population: ~125,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 9.1 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 37.9 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Vallejo’s crime rate continues to rise due to a mix of gang activity and slow police response times. Locals often express concern over late-night safety.

9. Santa Maria, CA

• Population: ~109,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 8.4 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 35.2 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: A smaller city with a surprising crime rate. Gang-related activity and domestic violence are major contributors to its ranking.

8. Sacramento, CA

• Population: ~525,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 7.6 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 36.7 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: California’s capital city struggles with car theft, robbery, and rising homelessness, which correlate with higher petty crimes and assaults.

7. Barstow, CA

• Population: ~25,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 12.8 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 42.3 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: With a small population, Barstow’s high crime rate per capita puts it near the top. It’s a hotspot for theft and violent encounters despite its desert setting.

6. San Francisco, CA

• Population: ~805,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 6.9 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 52.6 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: San Francisco may be tech-rich, but it leads in property crimes—especially car break-ins and theft. Public safety remains a major city concern.

5. Palm Springs, CA

• Population: ~45,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 9.5 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 46.1 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Despite being a vacation destination, Palm Springs sees high crime levels year-round. Theft, domestic violence, and assaults contribute to the risk.

4. Clearlake, CA

• Population: ~15,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 13.1 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 47.8 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Small town, big crime. Clearlake tops the charts in per-capita violence, with a notable problem in drug-related offenses and theft.

3. Los Angeles, CA

• Population: ~3.8 million
• Violent Crime Rate: 7.4 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 35.0 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: While not the worst, L.A.’s size brings volume. Assaults, robberies, and car thefts are common. Some neighborhoods are much safer than others, so knowing the area matters.

2. Emeryville, CA

• Population: ~13,000
• Violent Crime Rate: 10.4 per 1,000 residents
• Property Crime Rate: 129.0 per 1,000 residents
• Why It’s Here: Yep, you read that right—129 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Emeryville’s high retail theft and break-ins skyrocket its ranking, despite a tiny population.

1. Oakland, CA (Again)

Due to updates in FBI data, Oakland often appears in both top 20 rankings across different criteria.

• Violent Crime Rate: 12.2 per 1,000
• Property Crime Rate: 45.3 per 1,000
• Why It’s #1: When combining volume, severity, and per-capita stats, Oakland consistently stands out as California’s most dangerous major city.

Conclusion

California is a state of contrasts—beaches, tech hubs, and world-class cities—yet safety can vary drastically depending on where you are. From Oakland’s persistent violent crime to Emeryville’s shocking property theft rate, crime remains a serious concern in several communities.

Understanding crime stats isn’t about labeling cities as bad—it’s about awareness, preparation, and context. Many of these areas are actively working to improve, and some neighborhoods within these cities are much safer than others.

If you’re planning to move, travel, or invest in California, use this data as a starting point. Safety is key—and knowing where the risks lie helps you stay a step ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where does this crime data come from?

The data comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program and NeighborhoodScout, using finalized statistics from 2023, released in late 2024.

2. Why are small cities like Emeryville ranked so high?

Because crime rates are measured per 1,000 residents, small cities can appear more dangerous when even a modest number of incidents occur.

3. Is all of Los Angeles or Oakland dangerous?

No. Large cities have both high-crime neighborhoods and safe areas. These rankings reflect city-wide averages, not specific zip codes.

4. Will 2024 crime data change these rankings?

Possibly. The final 2024 crime data is expected in fall 2025, and we’ll update the rankings once it’s available.

5. How can I check crime stats for my neighborhood?

Websites like NeighborhoodScout, City-Data, and CrimeGrade.org offer detailed, up-to-date crime maps and stats.

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