Palmdale, CA Crime Rates: Stats & Map

Get crime, demographics and other data for any location in Palmdale, CA

D

5%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

39%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

14%

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.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Palmdale_{/100k people}	California_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	3,476	n/a (estimate)	2,161	2,834	2,281
Murder	9	n/a	5.6	5.0	5.7
Rape	41	n/a	25.5	36.4	38.0
Robbery	206	n/a	128.1	128.3	66.5
Assault	560	n/a	348.2	338.6	264.1
Violent crime	816	n/a (estimate)	507	508	364
Burglary	405	n/a	251.8	347.4	250.7
Theft	1,630	n/a	1,013.5	1,466.0	1,347.2
Vehicle theft	625	n/a	388.6	512.2	318.7
Property crime	2,660	n/a (estimate)	1,654	2,326	1,917

An Overview of Crime Rates in Palmdale, CA

The Palmdale crime rates are 9.4% 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 904 violent crimes in Palmdale (557 per 100,000 people), which is 50.6% higher than the national average and there were a total of 2516 property crimes (1550 per 100,000 residents) which is 20.7% lower than average.

When evaluating the Palmdale crime rate for every 100,000 residents, it positions itself in the middle range among all cities that reported crime. Our examination of total offenses, spanning both violent and property crimes, indicates that the reported Palmdale crime rates closely correspond to the national average reported by other regions.

Despite a steady decline in murder rates in the United States since 1990, recent years have witnessed an unfortunate uptick. Palmdale stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates, surpassing other cities that reported crime. In Palmdale, there were a total of 18 murders, translating to 11 murders per 100,000 people, underscoring the pressing need for continued efforts to address and reduce severe violent crime in the area.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Palmdale?

AreaVibes surveyed 100 local residents in Palmdale to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 51% of people answered that there was very little crime in Palmdale and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 49% 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 Palmdale a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Palmdale is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Palmdale has an overall crime rate that is 9% lower than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 9.37 daily occurrences, comprising 2.48 violent crimes and 6.89 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Palmdale as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Palmdale 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 Palmdale 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 Palmdale has increased by 18.8% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 21.5% and property crime has increased by 17.9%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Palmdale

Palmdale has a poverty rate of 15.8, while the national average is 15.1. In the past, there has been a direct correlation between high or low poverty rates and high or low crime stats. Elevated poverty levels and income disparities can contribute to heightened criminal activity, as individuals may resort to unlawful means to address their fundamental necessities. While lower poverty levels have led to a reduction in typical crime levels compared to other areas.

Palmdale reports an unemployment rate of 4.4%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Palmdale crime rates.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, 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 Palmdale, the cost of living is 15.99% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Palmdale crime map

The Palmdale crime map by CrimoMeter provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Palmdale 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 Palmdale crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Palmdale 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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Compare Palmdale, CA Crime

Crime Quick Facts

Palmdale crime rates are 5% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Palmdale are 39% higher than the national average
In Palmdale you have a 1 in 47 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Palmdale is safer than 19% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Palmdale has increased by 3%

Palmdale, CA Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Palmdale (per 100,000 people)

The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Palmdale, CA per 100,000 people. In Palmdale, the total number of daily crimes is 1.31 times less than the California average and 1.06 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Palmdale is 1.00 times less than the California average and 1.39 times more than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Palmdale has a daily crime rate that is 1.41 times less than the California average and 1.16 times less than the national average.

How Safe is Palmdale (higher is better)

When comparing the safety of Palmdale to every other city in California, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Palmdale safe? The gauges above illustrate that Palmdale is safer than 30% of every city located within California along with 19% 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, Palmdale, CA is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Palmdale

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Palmdale is 1 in 198

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Palmdale is 1 in 61

The chance of being a victim of crime in Palmdale is 1 in 47

Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Palmdale? If you reside in Palmdale, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 198. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 61 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 Palmdale, is 1 in 47.

Year Over Year Crime In Palmdale (per 100,000 people)

The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for Palmdale is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in Palmdale has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have decreased by 9% in Palmdale, while property crimes in Palmdale have increased by 7%. Total crime has increased by 3% year over year.

Palmdale police department

Item	Palmdale	California	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	n/a	51,506	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	n/a	3.6	3.3

Sex offenders in California

State	Total offenders	California_/100K	National_/100K
California	79,891	232	266

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}
Leona Valley, CA	1,672	135	620	755
Agua Dulce, CA	3,494	143	653	795
Acton, CA	7,054	236	1,079	1,314
Desert View Highlands, CA	3,259	313	1,435	1,749
Lancaster, CA	157,697	857	1,769	2,626
Quartz Hill, CA	10,405	502	2,300	2,802
Sun Village, CA	14,080	694	3,180	3,874
Palmdale, CA	153,240	507	1,654	2,161

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Macon-Bibb County, GA	153,026	528	2,733	3,261
Kansas City, KS	153,014	713	3,474	4,188
Springfield, MA	153,677	881	2,986	3,867
Hollywood, FL	153,834	227	1,189	1,417
Sunnyvale, CA	152,569	248	1,921	2,169
Palmdale, CA	153,240	507	1,654	2,161

Source: The Palmdale, 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.