Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in California in 2023

California is deemed iconic for a good reason; greater than 42 million visitors flock to Los Angeles County annually, with 7.2 million coming from outside the United States. The state has a population of 39.5 million people and is home to some of the most magnificent scenery in the country. But the Golden State isn’t perfect by any means. Annual crime rates in several California cities are far higher than average.

In most cities and towns, a five-block radius is where the majority of violent crimes occur. Staying safe in a dangerous city requires learning to avoid being frequented by criminals in neighborhoods. In order of their dangerousness, these are the top 10 most dangerous cities in California:

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1). Emeryville

Among California’s major cities, Emeryville is the number one most dangerous city in California. The total number of crimes committed per 100,000 residents in Emeryville is 18,192. According to the recorded crime rates by the police, Emeryville is one of the worst cities in California—not a very safe place to live in. The rate of violent crime in Emeryville is the highest of any California city and it is one of the worst town. The violent crime rate in Emeryville is 1,429 violent crimes per 100,000 people, implying that citizens have a 1 in 70 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. As a city, Emeryville has 272 percent more violent crime than the U.S. average. The rate of property crime in Emeryville is 16,763 per 100,000 residents. A person in Emeryville has a one in six probability of becoming a victim of a property crime.

If you’re wondering which city has the highest crime rate, then it would be Emeryville. There is a shockingly high rate of property crimes in this city. Those who choose to call this place home should take every safety measure possible to guard their houses and families. Home security systems are a must, and pepper spray is a must-have for residents’ everyday carry in high-crime neighborhoods.

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2) Oakland

Second only to Mexico City in terms of violent crime, Oakland, California is one of the most dangerous cities in California. It can be found in the Northern part of the state, to the southwest of the Bay Area. The odds of an Oakland resident becoming a victim of a violent crime or property crime are one in sixteen. AreaVibes, a website that ranks real estate based on safety, conducted a survey of Oakland locals. They asked, “How dangerous do you think Oakland is?” in their survey. Sixty-one percent of those who participated answered, “Awful. There is a serious problem with crime here.” The second question asked was, “Do you feel comfortable going alone at night in Oakland?” Of those who responded, 59 percent answered, “Not safe at all. For my own safety, I never go out for a late night stroll by myself.” Another 22 percent said, “Not very safe. When possible, I stay indoors at night.” Suffice it to say, Oakland is one of the unsafest cities in California in the year 2022.

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When compared to the rest of the country, Oakland’s rate of 1,274 violent offenses per 100,000 residents is 235 percent higher.

At 5,390 property crimes per 100,000 residents, Oakland has a high property crime rate. In Oakland, a resident’s risk of becoming a victim of property crime is one in eighteen.

As a city, Oakland has the highest crime rate among the cities in california. The odds of being a victim of property crime in Oakland are roughly three times higher than they are in the rest of the country. Residents of Oakland would do well to keep an eye on updated crime maps so they can avoid potentially dangerous areas.

3) Commerce

The crime rate in Commerce, California, is 3rd most dangerous city in California. In the city proper, there are 12,808 people. In Southern California, to the south of Los Angeles. The odds of a resident in Commerce becoming a victim of any crime are one in eleven (either violent crime or property crime). With a rate of 999 violent offenses per 100,000 residents, Commerce has a very high violent crime rate. 

More than double the national average, Commerce’s property crime rate stands at 7,784 incidents per 100,000 residents. The odds of becoming a victim of property crime in Commerce are one in twelve for residents of the city. Break-ins, thefts, and carjackings are reported as a percentage of property as follows: Commerce The rate of burglaries per 100,000 inhabitants is 843. The Retail Theft Rate is 5,052 per 100,000 Commerce As a percentage of the population, there are 1,889 car thefts per 100,000

Both violent and property crime are much more common in Commerce, making life there dangerous. Protect yourself and your family by carrying pepper spray, avoiding wandering alone at night, and installing appropriate security systems. The high crime rates in Commerce are frequently blamed on the city’s poor economic situation. This region has a poverty rate of 16%, higher than the national average of 13%. Sometimes, low wages can even inspire criminal activity.

4) Red Bluff

Located midway between Redding and Chico, Red Bluff is one of the Northern California towns worth visiting. With only 14,283 residents, the city has a staggering crime rate of 6,427 incidents per 100,000 residents. An individual in this community has a 1 in 15 risk of becoming a victim of a violent crime or a property crime. Red Bluff has a staggeringly high rate of 1,155 violent offenses per 100,000 residents. While residing in Red Bluff, one has a 1 in 87 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Red Bluff has three times the national average murder rate. Those looking to buy a home in Red Bluff should avoid neighborhoods with a high crime rate. Red Bluff has a property crime rate of 5,272 per 100,000 residents.

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It’s estimated that 1 in every 19 visitors to Red Bluff will become a victim of property crime during their stay there. If you own a home in Red Bluff, California, you have a fourfold higher chance of being a victim of a burglary than the typical American.

5) Barstow

Barstow rank as the fifth most dangerous city in california. Located north of San Bernardino, Barstow is home to a population of 23,973. The crime rate in Barstow is 123% greater than the U.S. average, as reported by AreaVibes. Respondents to a poll were questioned, “Over 65% of people polled said “Awful” when asked how they felt about the level of crime in Barstow. There is a serious problem with crime here.” AreaVibes’s second poll question was, “Do you feel comfortable strolling alone in Barstow at night?” With a response rate of over 64%, “No way is this secure. For my own safety, I never go out for a late night stroll by myself.” Barstow has a 211 percent higher rate of violent crime than the U.S. average. There are 1,183 violent crimes for per 100,000 residents in Barstow. A person in Barstow has a 1 in 84% chance of being a victim of violent crime.

With a property crime incidence of 4,610 per 100,000 people, Barstow residents have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

It is four times more likely that a homeowner or renter in Barstow will be a victim of burglary. Barstow has a very high crime rate. It’s important for Barstow residents to take precautions and safeguard their homes and family from potential dangers including burglary, theft, and violence, even if not every area is inherently unsafe.

6) West Hollywood

West Hollywood ranks as California’s sixth most dangerous city. Many visitors to West Hollywood are unprepared for the actual level of risk that exists there. There are 36,854 people living in the region, and it borders the affluent Beverly Hills neighborhood. The proximity to Beverly Hills is likely a contributing factor to the high crime rate in that area. There were 817 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents in West Hollywood in 2016. A person living in West Hollywood has a 1 in 122 risk of being a victim of violent crime.

West Hollywood has a property crime rate of 5,712 per 100,000 residents, about double the national average.

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Theft is the most common property offense in West Hollywood. Shopkeepers at small businesses and pedestrians alike would do well to take extra precautions to safeguard their possessions from thieves. The odds of being a victim of property crime in West Hollywood are 1 in 18.

7) San Bernardino

On the list of California’s most deadly cities, San Bernardino comes in at number seven. There are around 215,941 people who call San Bernardino home. About 12,700 offenses are reported to the police every year. Three thousand three hundred sixteen violent crimes and nine thousand three hundred ninety-one property offenses were reported. San Bernardino’s violent crime rate of 1,536 per 100,000 persons is roughly five times greater than the national average. The violent crime rate is one in sixty-five for locals.

San Bernardino has a murder rate that is over five times the national average. San Bernardino has a property crime rate of 4,349 per 100,000 residents.

The odds of a burglary occurring in a resident’s home are three times higher than the national average. Residences in San Bernardino can be better safeguarded with the installation of security measures.

8) Santa Monica

Santa Monica has a 131 percent higher crime rate than the U.S. average. The beach town of Santa Monica may be found west of L.A., right on the water. After spending the day sight-seeing in Hollywood, many visitors head to this region. An estimated 8.4 million tourists visit Santa Monica annually, which may lead to an increase in crime rates. In Santa Monica, there are 874 violent offenses for every 100,000 residents. The violent crime rate in Santa Monica is one in one hundred and fourteen for residents.

Santa Monica has a property crime rate of 5,191 per 100,000 residents. An individual in Santa Monica has a 1 in 19 probability of being a victim of property crime.

A lot of people have the misconception that all of Santa Monica is unsafe. Residents and visitors to Santa Monica should take safety precautions to protect their homes and valuables from potential intruders.

9) Signal

Among California’s ten most hazardous cities, Signal Hill ranks ninth. Located close to Long Beach, California, the population here is 11,555. AreaVibes polls show that residents have a generally negative impression of the safety in their neighborhood. In Signal Hill, there are 6,733 crimes for every 100,000 residents. Seven hundred forty four violent crimes per one hundred thousand residents describes the crime rate in Signal Hill. A resident of Signal Hill has a 1 in 134 risk of becoming a victim of violent crime.

With a rate of 5,989 property offenses per 100,000 residents, Signal Hill has a 1 in 17 risk of being a victim of property crime in any given year.

Residents of Signal Hill have a threefold higher risk of being a victim of a burglary than the rest of the country. Unfortunately, larceny and vehicle theft are also extremely prevalent in Signal Hill. Use the proper alarms to keep your home and things safe.

10) Eureka

In Eureka, one in 14 people will become a victim of a crime. Eureka ranks as the 10th most unsafe city in California. This includes both violent and property crimes. Northern California is home to this city of 26,998 residents. Bordering the ocean, this city is a picturesque respite from the sweltering heat of southern California. However, there is widespread concern that the city’s high crime rates would turn off potential residents. At 6,534 offenses per 100,000 residents, Eureka has a high crime rate. For every 100,000 residents, there are 733 violent crimes committed in Eureka.

There are about 5,800 property offenses per 100,000 residents in Eureka.

A resident of Eureka has a 1 in 17 probability of being a victim of property crime. Some areas of Eureka may be risky, but residents should still be cautious. Homeowners should frequently review local crime maps and avoid neighborhoods with higher crime rates.

Is it safe in California?

Each year, the FBI compiles their Crime Reporting Statistics, which includes a calculation of the yearly crime rate as a measure of the amount of crime that has been recorded in a given location. Citizens can use FBI records to find out more about the crime rate in their neighborhood. There are methods for determining the crime rate for any size area, be it a rural community, a major city, or the entire country. The number of crimes committed per 100,000 inhabitants is the standard method for determining a city’s crime rate. Consequently, the crime rate in a tiny section of Vallejo, California, can be compared to that of Los Angeles. All in all, there surely is room for worry for the unsafe cities in California 2022. 

There is a 1 in 42 probability of becoming a property crime victim in California. For this reason, Californians should take extra precautions to protect their homes from burglars because the state’s rate of burglaries is higher than the national average. While the state’s crime rate isn’t very low, it’s also not particularly high. If people in risky cities stay out of the bad neighborhoods, they shouldn’t have to deal with excessive crime. Maybe in the end, people would opt to move away from the worst cities in California.