Top 10 most dangerous cities in California

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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.

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Oakland Population: 422,575 1,925 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 52 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,156

Oakland, CA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in California with 1,925 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,158), robbery (680), rape (68) and homicide (19) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 296% 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.

Commerce Population: 12,738 1,448 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,808

The second most dangerous city is Commerce. With a population of 12,738 and a violent crime rate that is 198% higher than the California average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Commerce are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,448 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 69 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Crescent City Population: 6,690 1,386 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,848

Home to 6,690 residents, Crescent City, CA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in California. Unfortunately for residents of Crescent City, crime is widespread, with more than 1,386 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.80 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 185% higher than the California violent crime rate.

Red Bluff Population: 14,091 1,277 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,527

With a violent crime rate that is 163% higher than the California average, it's not hard to see why Red Bluff made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (230), assault (837), rape (202) 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 Red Bluff more vulnerable to high crime.

Compton Population: 95,804 1,272 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 79 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,417

The ongoing battle with crime in Compton, 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 1,272 and a 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Compton has a violent crime rate that is 162% 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 Compton.

Emeryville Population: 11,679 1,231 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 14,719

Emeryville, CA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,231 per 100,000 people, which is 153% higher than the California average. Emeryville has a population of 11,679, which translates to 3.37 crimes per day and 1 in 81 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 Emeryville which are much safer than others.

Stockton Population: 311,103 1,146 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,785

A 1 in 87 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.14 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Stockton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,146 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 136% higher than the California average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (753), robbery (336), rape (40) and homicide (16).

Barstow Population: 23,547 1,108 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,747

Barstow, CA is another one of the most dangerous cities in California and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 23,547 and a violent crime rate of 1,108 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 749 counts of assault, 266 counts of robbery, 89 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the Barstow violent crime rate is 128% higher than the California average.

Eureka Population: 26,938 1,016 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,187

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, Eureka, CA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in California with a violent crime rate of 1,016 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.78 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Victorville Population: 122,958 1,016 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,144

Rounding out our list at #10 is Victorville, CA. With a population of 122,958 and a violent crime rate of 1,016 per 100,000 people (109% higher than the California average), some parts of Victorville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 774 counts of assault, 170 counts of robbery, 63 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 98 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	Oakland	422,575	1,925	9,156
2	Commerce	12,738	1,448	13,808
3	Crescent City	6,690	1,386	7,848
4	Red Bluff	14,091	1,277	5,527
5	Compton	95,804	1,272	4,417
6	Emeryville	11,679	1,231	14,719
7	Stockton	311,103	1,146	3,785
8	Barstow	23,547	1,108	3,747
9	Eureka	26,938	1,016	4,187
10	Victorville	122,958	1,016	3,144
11	Oroville	19,659	981	4,800
12	Corning	7,589	948	2,643
13	Richmond	110,051	923	3,685
14	Signal Hill	11,430	913	6,831
15	Lynwood	69,625	910	4,118
16	Santa Fe Springs	17,643	906	7,066
17	Parlier	15,645	897	1,864
18	San Bernardino	216,784	897	3,795
19	West Hollywood	35,506	884	6,375
20	Anderson	10,479	842	2,211
21	Lancaster	157,697	835	2,755
22	Clearlake	15,329	829	2,413
23	South Lake Tahoe	22,535	786	2,247
24	Merced	84,081	785	3,577
25	Santa Monica	91,600	778	5,568
26	Huron	7,084	769	1,303
27	Sacramento	503,482	755	3,302
28	Marysville	12,467	745	2,806
29	Vallejo	121,275	740	4,730
30	Dos Palos	5,266	739	2,622
31	Costa Mesa	112,958	738	3,574
32	Hawaiian Gardens	14,212	736	2,839
33	Fresno	526,147	735	4,007
34	Los Angeles	3,973,278	728	2,212
35	Hawthorne	85,410	727	3,193
36	Pomona	151,124	716	3,469
37	Atwater	30,336	710	2,904
38	Yreka	7,589	704	3,149
39	Gardena	59,401	703	3,755
40	Chico	98,683	699	2,597
41	National City	61,342	696	2,635
42	Fort Bragg	7,279	696	3,333
43	Huntington Park	57,761	691	3,812
44	Mendota	12,173	687	1,359
45	Susanville	14,922	687	1,838
46	Chowchilla	18,443	677	1,866
47	Long Beach	462,081	676	4,155
48	Ridgecrest	28,905	676	1,750
49	Inglewood	109,309	675	4,289
50	Culver City	38,913	667	6,530

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.