A
41%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
64%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
37%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleFoster City/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime427n/a (estimate)1,3602,8432,324
Murder0n/a0.05.76.3
Rape6n/a19.137.440.0
Robbery10n/a31.9123.566.1
Assault26n/a82.8332.8268.2
Violent crime42n/a (estimate)134500370
Burglary54n/a172.0371.9269.8
Theft298n/a949.41,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft33n/a105.1471.9282.7
Property crime385n/a (estimate)1,2272,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Foster City, CA

The Foster City crime rates are 41.5% lower 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 42 violent crimes in Foster City (134 per 100,000 people), which is 63.8% lower than the national average and there were a total of 385 property crimes (1227 per 100,000 residents) which is 37.2% lower than average.

During the most recently reported crime year, Foster City experienced a total of 0 reported murders. This statistic paints it as a beacon of security when it comes to severe violent crimes. Such an achievement not only instills a profound sense of security for its residents but also sets a high standard for other communities striving to create similarly secure environments. It underscores the area as a place where safety is a top priority, enhancing its appeal as a desirable location to live and thrive.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Foster City?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Foster City residents. Out of the respondents (18 in total), 56% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Foster City were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 44% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Foster City a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Foster City is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Foster City has a total crime rate that is 41% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 1.17 daily crimes (0.12 violent daily crimes and 1.05 daily property crimes) in Foster City.

Has Crime in Foster City 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 Foster City 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 Foster City has decreased by 18.4% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 2.4% and property crime has decreased by 20.1%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Foster City

Foster City has a poverty rate that stands at 3.2, in contrast to the national average of 15.1. Historically, a direct correlation has been observed between poverty rates and crime stats. Higher poverty rates have led to higher crime rates, while lower poverty rates have led to a reduction in Foster City crime rates. Income disparities and heightened poverty levels can serve as catalysts for elevated or reduced criminal activity, as individuals may or may not turn to illicit means to fulfill their basic needs. This could be one of many factors that may influence crime.

The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Foster City, 95.6% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.

Elevated rental costs can generate economic strain for both individuals and families, particularly those with restricted financial means. When a substantial proportion of one's income is allocated to housing costs, it often leaves limited resources for fulfilling other crucial necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. This financial pressure can fuel desperation, potentially prompting individuals to resort to criminal actions, including theft or fraud, as a means of coping with their financial hardships. In Foster City, the average monthly rent stands at $3,303, while the national average is $949 per month.

Foster City crime map



The Foster City crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Foster City 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 Foster City crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Foster City 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.
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Crime Quick Facts

  • Foster City crime rates are 41% lower than the national average
  • Violent crimes in Foster City are 64% lower than the national average
  • In Foster City you have a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim of crime
  • Foster City is safer than 63% of the cities in the United States
  • Year over year crime in Foster City has decreased by 11%

Foster City, CA Crime Quiz

     

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        Daily Crime In Foster City (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Foster City, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Foster City are 2.09 times less than the California average and 1.71 times less than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Foster City are 3.73 times less than than California and 2.76 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Foster City are 1.91 times less than than California and 1.59 times less than the national average.

        How Safe is Foster City (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Foster City to every other city in California, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Foster City safe? The gauges above illustrate that Foster City is safer than 88% of every city located within California along with 63% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in California and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Foster City, CA is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Foster City

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Foster City is 1 in 748
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Foster City is 1 in 82
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Foster City is 1 in 74
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Foster City? In Foster City, you have a 1 in 748 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 82. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Foster City, CA is 1 in 74.

        Year Over Year Crime In Foster City (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Foster City is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Foster City has increased by 12%, while the property crime rate in Foster City has decreased by 13% year over year. The number of total crimes in Foster City has decreased by 11% year over year.

        Foster City police department

        Item Foster City California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)4851,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.53.63.3
        There are a total of 48 Foster City police officers. This results in 1.5 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 57.5% less than the California average and 52.7% 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
        Norris Canyon, CA79070329399
        Ladera, CA1,38570329399
        Montara, CA2,83378368446
        West Menlo Park, CA3,72095446542
        Moss Beach, CA3,43695446542
        Loyola, CA3,40495446542
        Portola Valley, CA4,568130609738
        Foster City, CA33,0561341,2271,360

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Houma, LA33,0538304,0814,911
        Fruit Cove, FL33,038116702818
        Douglasville, GA33,0356585,0515,709
        Andover, MN33,0192431,7001,942
        Fair Lawn, NJ32,98651720771
        Foster City, CA33,0561341,2271,360
        Source: The Foster City, CA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. 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.