Most Dangerous Cities in California

Let's delve into the sobering statistics and underlying factors that contribute to their unsettling distinction as the twelve most dangerous cities in California. 

Key Findings

• Emeryville is the most dangerous city in California due to its extremely high violent crime rate of 2,356 per 100,000 residents, which is 520% higher than the US average. 
• The second most dangerous city in California is Oakland, which has a violent crime rate of 1,547 per 100,000. Oakland is also the murder capital of California, with 126 homicides in 2023.
• The third worst city in California for crime is San Bernardino, which suffers from a violent crime rate of 1,310 per 100,000 people. 

15 Most Dangerous Cities in California

1. Emeryville
2. Oakland
3. San Bernardino
4. Commerce
5. Stockton
6. Compton
7. Vallejo
8. Grass Valley
9. Richmond
10. Barstow
11. Lancaster
12. Modesto
    
13. Inglewood
14. Merced
15. Bakersfield

1. Emeryville 

The most dangerous city in California is Emeryville, with a violent crime rate of 2,356 per 100,000 residents. Despite its relatively modest population of 12,905, the prevalence of crime within Emeryville is notable, with property theft and vehicle theft being among the most commonly reported offenses. The year 2023 witnessed a concerning surge in reported incidents of theft, coupled with over 300 reported cases of violent crime.

Due to Emeryville’s small population, each citizen has about a 1 in 43 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, making it the most dangerous place to live in California. 

2. Oakland 

Oakland is one of the worst cities in California due to its extraordinarily high crime rates. It's also one of the most dangerous cities in the USA. Oakland’s crime rate may have decreased since the 1990s, but its crime statistics are still well above the US average, with the violent crime rate in the city being 392% higher than the national average. In 2023, the violent crime rate was at 1,547 per 100,000 residents, which was 8% higher than the previous year. Oakland also has the highest murder rate in California. 

Vehicle theft, property theft, burglary, and assault are the most common types of crime reported in the city. Drug related offenses are also common as Oakland is dealing with a meth epidemic, making it one of the worst drug cities in California. Gun violence is another significant problem in many areas of the city. Much of the gun violence in Oakland can be attributed to gang activity. 

Located in Alameda County, Oakland is a major commerce hub in the East Bay Area. With a population of 440,646, Oakland is the third-largest city in the Bay Area and the eighth-largest city in California. 

3. San Bernardino

San Bernardino is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. San Bernardino has a population of 222,101, and a violent crime rate of 1,310 per 100,000 people, which is 331% higher than the national average. Violent crimes such as robbery and murder have risen by as much as 39% from 2017 to 2022. While property crime has decreased since 2017, crimes like aggravated assault have risen by as much as 145% since that year, making San Bernadino one of the worst cities to live in California. 

4. Commerce 

Commerce is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. Located in Southeast Los Angeles County, Commerce is a small city home to around 12,345 residents. It’s primarily an industrial area that suffers from a high rate of crime compared to the rest of California. The total crime rate is 15,415 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 563% higher than the national average and 442% higher than the rest of California. The violent crime rate is 1,553 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 320% higher than the rest of the country, and your odds of being the victim of a crime in Commerce are 1 in 7. 

5. Stockton 

Stockton is one of the most dangerous cities in California’s Central Valley region. The city is located in San Joaquin County and has a population of 320,804. Stockton has a crime rate well above the US and state average. In 2022, violent crime was reported to be 1,260 per 100,000 people, making the likelihood of becoming a victim 1 in 79. Stocktons high violent crime rate is 319% higher than the national average. 

Property crime is also much higher than in other cities of its size, having over 9,300 reported incidents of property crime in 2022. 

6. Compton

Compton is also one of the worst cities in California for crime. Compton is located in the South Los Angeles region of California and has a population of 97,740. The violent crime rate in Compton was 1,105 per 100,000 people in 2022, which is 279% higher than the national average. The city has a high rate of homicides, robberies, and aggravated assaults. Despite successful efforts to reduce crime, Compton continues to be a dangerous place to live in 2024.

7. Vallejo

Vallejo is another California city that has been struggling with high crime rates for many years. Vallejo has a population of 124,886, and a violent crime rate of 966 per 100,000 people, which is 244% higher than the national average. Vallejo residents have a 1 in 100 chance of falling victim to a violent crime each year. The most common types of violent crimes in Vallejo are aggravated assault and robbery, while common property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. 

Crime in Vallejo is a pervasive issue that affects the safety and well-being of its residents. Although the city has made some progress in reducing crime, it still one of the most dangerous cities in California.

8. Grass Valley

Grass Valley is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. It’s nestled in the center of the Sierra Nevada foothills about an hour outside of Sacramento and features a population of 13,614 residents. Originally a mining town during the California gold rush, Grass Valley was once one of the richest towns in the region. However, it has since suffered from decline, leading to a rise in crime. It has one of the highest auto theft rates in California. The violent crime rate in Grass Valley is 237% higher than the rest of the national average. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Grass Valley are 1 in 24. 

9. Richmond

Richmond is another city with one of the highest crime rates in California. It has a population of 110,567 and is located in the San Francisco Bay area. While Richmond may be a more affordable option near San Francisco, the city has a reputation for violent crime. In 2023, the violent crime rate for the city was 921 per 100,000 people, a whopping 233% higher than the national average. In the same year, reported vehicle and property theft incidents numbered in the thousands. 

While Richmond may be safer than neighboring Oakland, the city is still one of the most dangerous places in California and the Bay Area. Residents generally consider the northeastern part of the city to be safer, with a major concentration of crime occurring in the “Iron Triangle,” or the central part of the city. With so much crime, Richmond is one of the worst areas to live in California if safety is a concern.

10. Barstow 

Barstow is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. Situated in San Bernardino County in the heart of the Mojave Desert, Barstow is a major commercial hub for the Inland Empire that’s home to about 25,000 residents. It’s a quiet desert town that’s home to several military facilities, including the Marine Corps Logistics Base and US Army Training Center at Ft. Irwin. Yet, despite its military presence, Barstow has one of the highest crime rates in the country for a city of its size. The total crime rate is Barstow 3,401 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 46% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 194% higher than the rest of the country, and Barstow is more dangerous than 96% of cities in the US. 

11. Lancaster

Lancaster is also one of the worst cities in California due to its high violent crime rate. Situated in the Antelope Valley of the West Mojave Desert in the northern part of Los Angeles County, Lancaster is a diverse city with an affordable cost of living. It has a population of 173,516, making it the 30th largest city in California. It also suffers from crime, with a crime rate that is much higher than the national average. The violent crime rate in Lancaster is 135% higher than the US average, and the murder rate is 21% higher. Your odds of being the victim of a crime in Lancaster are 1 in 37. 

12. Modesto

Modesto is also one of the most dangerous cities in California. It has a population of around 219,000 and a violent crime rate of 742 per 100,000 people, which is 188% higher than the national average. The most common crimes in Modesto include property crime and theft. According to FBI statistics from 2023, Modesto experienced over 5,000 reported incidents of property crime and over 1,600 incidents of violent crime. Modesto is known for having one of the highest rates of car theft in California. In 2023, there were 2,087 car thefts, or 389 per 1,000 people- far exceeding the national average. 

13. Inglewood

Inglewood is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. It’s a city in southwestern Los Angeles County that’s home to 107,762 residents as of the 2020 census. It’s part of the Los Angeles metro area and is often regarded as a neighborhood of LA. But it’s its own incorporated city and has a unique history and cultural identity that sets it apart. However, Inglewood has a high crime rate compared to the rest of the country.

The total crime rate is 3,564 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 53% higher than the rest of the country and 22% higher than the rest of California. The violent crime rate is 80% higher than the rest of the US, while the property crime rate is 48% higher. Your odds of being the victim of a crime in Inglewood are 1 in 29. 

14. Merced

Located south of Modesto, Merced is another one of the worst cities in California when it comes to crime. Located in the Central Valley, Merced has a population of 86,333 and a violent crime rate of 599 per 100,000 residents. The homicide rate in Merced is 12.3 per 100,000 people, which is the highest in the state and has led to the city being dubbed the murder capital of California.  

Even since the 1990s, crime rates in Merced have stayed consistently high, keeping the city historically ranked among the country’s most violent metro areas. While property crime in Merced has decreased by as much as 20% by the year 2020, violent crimes have been sharply increasing. From 2019 to 2023, murders in Merced nearly doubled based on FBI statistics for those years. 

15. Bakersfield

Bakersfield is another one of the most dangerous cities in California. It has a population of around 405,000 and is located near California’s San Joaquin Valley. The violent crime rate in Bakersfield was 498 per 100,000 in 2023, which is 27% higher than the national average. Not everything about Bakersfield is bad, though, as it's one of the most affordable places to live in California. So, if you find a safer neighborhood in the city, you can enjoy a low cost of living. 

In 2023, there were over 15,300 incidents of property crime in Bakersfield. However, according to Bakersfield Now, a local news agency, the city saw a 30% decrease in homicides in 2022 from 2020. Much of the violence in Bakersfield can be attributed to gang activity, which has been a growing problem for many years. With an overall crime rate of 94% above the national average, Bakersfield certainly has a reputation for being one of California’s more dangerous cities. 

Most Dangerous Cities in California Compared

Is California Dangerous?

California is more dangerous than most other US states as it has a violent crime rate of 498 per 100,000 residents, which is 25% higher than the national average. California also has the highest rate of robbery in America, at 124 per 100,000 residents, which is 98% more than the US average. Even more troubling is the fact that California's violent crime rate has been steadily rising since 2020, primarily driven by a dramatic increase in assaults. Overall, California residents have a 1 in 205 chance of being the victims of a violent crime.

Methodology For Determining the Most Dangerous Cities in California

To determine the most dangerous cities in California in 2024, we looked at crime rates throughout each city, including theft, burglary, and murder rates per capita. While large cities like Los Angeles may have more reported crime, some smaller cities have a greater proportion of criminal incidents, making them statistically more violent.

This data has been compiled from the most recent statistics of cities and towns from the FBI Uniform Crime Report and data released from city and county governments. 

Most Dangerous Cities in California Bottom Line

While many of the most violent cities in California might seem attractive at first glance due to lower real estate prices, you must also consider safety. You don’t want to move somewhere because it’s cheap, only to realize you’re living in one of the worst cities in California when it comes to violent crime. 

It’s also important to remember that even some of the most dangerous cities can have safe areas. In contrast, cities that didn’t make our list, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, can have extremely dangerous neighborhoods. For example, Richmond has pockets of safe neighborhoods, with crime concentrated in other areas.