The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In California

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In California For 2024

Located just southeast of Los Angeles, Commerce is nicknamed “The Model City,” but it has a long way to go before it can be truly described as a model for crime rates. Over the course of a year, any given resident has a 1 in 7 chance of being the victim of a property crime, the second highest rate in California.

Commerce’s violent crime, on the other hand, has been dropping at a steady rate in recent years, but it’s still prevalent enough to rank as the most violent place in California for 2022. At least nobody has to resort to pickpocketing for bus fare, because Commerce is one of the few cities in California to offer free bus service.

Oakland gets a bad wrap for being hella dangerous, but, in this case, the stereotype is all too true. With an overall crime rate 150% higher than the national average, a murder happening every five days on average, and the fifth highest rate of property crime in California, the statistics lead to the inescapable conclusion that Bump City is far from safe.

On the plus side, Oakland still has plenty of family-friendly spots where you don’t have to be looking over your shoulder constantly, like the entertainment and business destination, Jack London Square on the city’s waterfront, and the Oakland Zoo in Grass Valley.

Four years running, and Emeryville still tops our list of the most dangerous places to live in California; not exactly a title they’re keen to hold onto, I’m sure. Located north of Oakland and east of San Francisco, Emeryville is also home to the Pixar Studios.

Those cute Pixar characters would be way out of their element if they landed in Emeryville, though, where they’d have a 1 in 90 chance of being the victim of a violent crime and a shocking 1 in 6 chance of being at the receiving end of a property crime.

So if you’re out for a shopping spree on Bay Street, be sure to get out quick, or your day’s haul could easily get snatched. The good news? Emeryville didn’t have a single murder last year, so that’s something.

In purely geographical terms, Crescent City represents an excellent place to live. Located in the extreme north of the state, less than a half hour south of the Oregon border, the community sits along the Pacific coast. It even gets its name from a crescent-shaped beach nearby.

If only you could live there alone. Unfortunately, residents of Crescent City have reason to distrust their neighbors. After all, this is number 4 most dangerous spot in California.

For a community of just 6,732 people, the area experienced 82 violent crimes. This included 6 sexual assaults, giving it the number 19 scariest rate in this disturbing category.

Yreka, the fifth most dangerous place to live in California, poses significant safety concerns for its residents. With a population of 7,865, this city in Siskiyou County has experienced a high rate of violent crime, including 118 incidents. Although the murder rate is relatively low, at 0 per capita, the overall violent crime rate is alarming, ranking Yreka as the third-highest in the state.

In addition to violent crime, property crime is also a significant issue in Yreka, with 370 reported incidents. Burglaries are particularly prevalent, with 35 cases recorded.

Hollywood is famous for producing films that showcase ungodly amounts of violence and property damage, but the real West Hollywood is a hub of such acts in its own right. West Hollywood’s property crime rate is the fourth highest in the state, and rape cases are the 57th highest.

West Hollywood somewhat makes up for these disappointing numbers by having one of the lowest rates of violent crime on this list, as well as an 8/10 overall SnackAbility score. Plus, it’s home to one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the nation, and the Sunset Strip is an excellent place to spend the day.

Located on the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley, Red Bluff comes in as the seventh most dangerous place in California. While it may not be a major city, or near a major city, Red Bluff experienced a shocking rate of violent crime in 2022, the 19th highest statewide. So if you’re out for a day at the Sacramento River Bend, your reasons for bringing along some bear mace are twofold.

Property crime is slightly less of a problem in Red Bluff, but a 1 in 20 chance of being robbed or having your property damaged is certainly less than ideal. Unfortunately, Red Bluff also had the fifth highest rate of rape cases in California recorded in 2022.

If you’re a true crime buff, you’ve heard of Vallejo. It was the site of one of the infamous Zodiac Killer murders during the 1960s. So, yeah, already a tough reputation for a community to live down.

But we’re not just talking the occasional weirdo serial killer here. Vallejo is overrun with the everyday stuff too — the kinds of crime that force people to invest in alarms and doorbell cameras. In fact, Vallejo ranks as the number 8 most dangerous spot in California. This includes the number 23 worst rate of burglaries. And, yes, even without the Zodiac Killer, the area reported 22 murders during the past year.

Pismo Beach, located in San Luis Obispo County, California, ranks as the ninth most dangerous place to live in the state. Pismo Beach reported 95 violent crimes. Additionally, property crime is a concern, with 293 cases reported. Burglary is particularly prevalent with 31 incidents recorded.

The location of Pismo Beach on the Central Coast area of California adds to its allure as a tourist destination and a desirable place to live. The transient population that comes for touristy reasons can add to the overall higher crime rate per capita.

Santa Monica has a lot going for it; its titular pier is a favorite for locals and tourists alike, its beaches are world-class, and downtown is chock full of excellent entertainment, restaurants, and shops.

But there’s a seamy underbelly of crime in Santa Monica, much of it centered around the Pico neighborhood and its gang activity. So while Santa Monica’s property crime and violent crime rates are around the top ten worst in California, note that staying out of the city’s worst areas should yield a safe experience.

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