Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in California

California is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, dynamic cultural scene, and abundant economic opportunities. However, not all places within the Golden State share an equal level of safety. Some cities face a more significant challenge in combating criminal activity, which distinguishes them as the most unsafe places to reside. Contrary to common assumptions, larger urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco don’t always exhibit the highest levels of danger. Surprisingly, smaller cities can outpace their larger counterparts in terms of crime rates. Before exploring the 10 most dangerous cities in California, draw attention to the table featuring the population and crime rate in the 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the state.

List Of 100 Most Dangerous Cities In California: Violent Crime RatePer 100,000 Residents

Rank	City	Population	Violent Crime Rate
1	Stockton	313,604	1,397 per 100k
2	San Bernardino	216,715	1,318 per 100k
3	Oakland	434,036	1,271 per 100k
4	Compton	96,638	1,142 per 100k
5	Richmond	110,988	931 per 100k
6	Lancaster	159,335	853 per 100k
7	Vallejo	122,657	845 per 100k
8	Modesto	216,542	812 per 100k
9	Victorville	123,089	803 per 100k
10	Huntington Park	58,181	787 per 100k
11	Los Angeles	4,015,546	732 per 100k
12	Hawthorne	87,305	728 per 100k
13	Santa Monica	91,621	725 per 100k
14	San Francisco	886,007	670 per 100k
15	South Gate	94,445	659 per 100k
16	Highland	55,686	650 per 100k
17	Merced	83,854	644 per 100k
18	Lynwood	70,619	643 per 100k
19	Paramount	54,422	638 per 100k
20	Sacramento	513,934	627 per 100k
21	Pomona	152,776	615 per 100k
22	Inglewood	109,398	613 per 100k
23	Pittsburg	73,637	606 per 100k
24	Watsonville	54,261	604 per 100k
25	Santa Cruz	65,263	596 per 100k
26	National City	61,791	589 per 100k
27	Chico	95,826	581 per 100k
28	Antioch	112,641	575 per 100k
29	Turlock	74,120	575 per 100k
30	Rialto	103,965	572 per 100k
31	Indio	92,803	571 per 100k
32	Gardena	59,833	542 per 100k
33	El Cajon	103,686	532 per 100k
34	Long Beach	467,974	506 per 100k
35	Riverside	333,260	506 per 100k
36	Madera	66,250	504 per 100k
37	Berkeley	122,788	503 per 100k
38	San Leandro	90,297	503 per 100k
39	Salinas	156,943	498 per 100k
40	Carson	91,947	483 per 100k
41	Santa Rosa	177,884	482 per 100k
42	Hesperia	95,915	482 per 100k
43	Apple Valley	74,051	458 per 100k
44	Bakersfield	388,080	455 per 100k
45	Hanford	57,232	449 per 100k
46	San Jose	1,040,008	438 per 100k
47	Santa Barbara	91,717	436 per 100k
48	Santa Ana	333,663	435 per 100k
49	Visalia	134,961	434 per 100k
50	Pasadena	141,913	432 per 100k
51	Bellflower	77,196	424 per 100k
52	Palmdale	157,138	419 per 100k
53	Gilroy	60,106	418 per 100k
54	Concord	130,615	414 per 100k
55	Norwalk	105,067	411 per 100k
56	Ventura	111,596	410 per 100k
57	Oceanside	177,129	402 per 100k
58	Moreno Valley	210,979	401 per 100k
59	Tulare	65,134	401 per 100k
60	Hemet	86,082	398 per 100k
61	San Rafael	58,819	391 per 100k
62	Colton	55,059	390 per 100k
63	West Sacramento	54,372	390 per 100k
64	Delano	53,002	387 per 100k
65	Upland	77,398	385 per 100k
66	Fairfield	118,383	373 per 100k
67	Pico Rivera	62,880	372 per 100k
68	Placentia	51,756	371 per 100k
69	Yucaipa	53,964	371 per 100k
70	Union City	75,202	368 per 100k
71	Woodland	61,176	366 per 100k
72	San Diego	1,441,737	362 per 100k
73	Ontario	183,322	359 per 100k
74	Yuba City	67,164	359 per 100k
75	Redlands	71,941	357 per 100k
76	Citrus Heights	88,496	354 per 100k
77	Chino	93,348	352 per 100k
78	Napa	79,526	352 per 100k
79	Lodi	67,612	351 per 100k
80	Escondido	153,215	350 per 100k
81	Vista	102,227	346 per 100k
82	Oxnard	211,349	343 per 100k
83	Fontana	215,883	342 per 100k
84	Hayward	161,588	342 per 100k
85	Chula Vista	275,230	328 per 100k
86	Vacaville	101,147	327 per 100k
87	Perris	80,500	325 per 100k
88	Rosemead	54,489	321 per 100k
89	Porterville	60,209	319 per 100k
90	Anaheim	353,915	316 per 100k
91	Downey	112,330	313 per 100k
92	Petaluma	62,425	304 per 100k
93	Buena Park	82,627	298 per 100k
94	Glendora	52,211	297 per 100k
95	Rancho Cordova	75,869	297 per 100k
96	Garden Grove	172,832	292 per 100k
97	La Mesa	59,865	291 per 100k
98	Jurupa Valley	110,111	288 per 100k
99	Azusa	50,405	286 per 100k
100	Westminster	91,086	284 per 100k

Source:spolinlaw.com website

10 Most Dangerous Cities in California

From Stockton, with its staggering reported violent crimes, to Huntington Park, where incidents persist on a smaller scale, each of these cities faces unique safety challenges that deserve attention and consideration. Let’s explore“California’s most dangerous cities, delving into aspects such as population, violent crime rates, types of crimes, and more.

1. Stockton 

Taking the top spot as the most unsafe city in California, Stockton, with a population of 313,604, experiences a staggering 4,380 reported violent crimes. This results in a violent crime rate of 1,397 incidents per 100,000 residents. The city witnesses approximately 34 homicides, 181 sexual assaults, 1,158 robberies, and 3,007 aggravated assaults on an annual basis.

2. San Bernardino 

San Bernardino, home to 216,715 individuals, secures the second position on the list. The city reports 2,858 violent crimes, yielding a violent crime rate of 1,318 incidents per 100,000 people. Notable statistics encompass around 46 murders, 140 rapes, 906 robberies, and 1,766 aggravated assaults each year.

3. Oakland 

Oakland, housing 434,036 residents, claims the third spot. With 5,520 reported violent crimes, the city exhibits a violent crime rate of 1,271 incidents per 100,000 residents. Prominent figures include approximately 78 homicides, 372 sexual assaults, 2,859 robberies, and 2,211 aggravated assaults annually.

4. Compton 

Compton, with a population of 96,638, takes fourth place. The city reports 1,104 violent crimes, resulting in a violent crime rate of 1,142 incidents per 100,000 individuals. Notable data involves approximately 18 homicides, 40 sexual assaults, 427 robberies, and 619 aggravated assaults each year.

5. Richmond 

With a population of 110,988, Richmond secures the fifth ranking. The city experiences 1,034 reported violent crimes, leading to a violent crime rate of 931 incidents per 100,000 residents. Noteworthy statistics include around 16 homicides, 36 sexual assaults, 307 robberies, and 675 aggravated assaults annually.

6. Lancaster 

Lancaster, accommodating 159,335 people, ranks as the sixth most dangerous city. The city records 1,359 violent crimes, culminating in a violent crime rate of 853 incidents per 100,000 residents. The city sees approximately 7 homicides, 114 sexual assaults, 374 robberies, and 864 aggravated assaults each year.

7. Vallejo 

Vallejo, with a population of 122,657, claims the seventh position. The city reports 1,037 violent crimes, resulting in a violent crime rate of 845 incidents per 100,000 people. Notable figures comprise approximately 12 homicides, 138 sexual assaults, 336 robberies, and 551 aggravated assaults annually.

8. Modesto 

Modesto, housing 216,542 residents, secures the eighth spot. The city registers 1,758 violent crimes, resulting in a violent crime rate of 812 incidents per 100,000 residents. Key statistics involve around 13 homicides, 94 sexual assaults, 399 robberies, and 1,252 aggravated assaults each year.

9. Victorville 

Victorville, with a population of 123,089, ranks as the ninth most dangerous city. The city records 988 violent crimes, leading to a violent crime rate of 803 incidents per 100,000 individuals. Noteworthy data includes approximately 5 homicides, 45 sexual assaults, 255 robberies, and 683 aggravated assaults annually.

10. Huntington Park 

Huntington Park, home to 58,181 people, occupies the tenth position. The city reports 458 violent crimes, resulting in a violent crime rate of 787 incidents per 100,000 residents. The city witnesses around 3 homicides, 31 sexual assaults, 249 robberies, and 175 aggravated assaults on an annual basis.”

Conclusion

These cities serve as a poignant reminder of the diverse challenges California faces in terms of crime prevention and public safety. From social and economic factors to law enforcement capabilities, numerous variables contribute to these cities’ crime rates. However, it is important to note that despite these crime statistics, each city holds its unique vibrancy and potential for change.