California’s Safest Cities of 2025

Rebecca Edwards
Cathy Habas
Mar 17, 2025
Icon Time To Read4 min read
Icon CheckEdited ByKit Smith
Icon CheckData Analysis ByDaniel Delgado

For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.

11th annual Safest Cities report banner

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in California for 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

When it comes to safety, daily concern continues to be the California state of mind, based on our latest State of Safety survey. From those we surveyed, 64% of Californians feel a high daily level of concern for their safety—the highest percentage in the nation and up from 50% the previous year. 

Californians were also more likely to have experienced a crime first-hand compared to the average American, so it's not surprising that they're among the most concerned about property crime, package theft, and violent crime. Just 41% of Californians surveyed say they feel safe in their state, the ninth lowest safety confidence in the nation.

In this report

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NOTE: If your city is missing from our full report, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2023.

Do people feel safe in California? Survey insights for 2025

Bar chart comparing how safe California residents feel, with 41% feeling safe versus the 48% national average.

Bar chart comparing how safe California residents feel, with 41% feeling safe versus the 48% national average. Image: SafeWise.

We didn't have enough reliable data to calculate overall crime rates for The Golden State for our 2025 report. However, we can learn about trends through our State of Safety survey and safest cities.

According to our survey, Californians experience more crime than the average American but don't top the charts in any category. In the safest cities, property crime occurred about ten times more often than violent crime on average.

Find safety and security resources in California.

Property crime in California: Fear vs. reality

Property crime rates in California have consistently been higher than nationwide rates, and self-reported experiences with property crime went up year over year.

  • 68% of Californians are highly concerned about property crime on a regular basis, making them the third most concerned state behind New Mexico (71%)  and Hawaii (69%). 
  • California reported the seventh-highest level of personal experience with property crime. 33% of survey respondents said it happened to them in the 8 months prior to the survey (US 27%).
  • 42% of Californians experienced package theft in the 8 months prior to the survey—the fifth-highest percentage in the country.
  • Californians are the second most concerned state when it comes to package theft, with 66% saying they worry about it daily (US 52%).
  • 45% of Californians surveyed said they adopted new security or safety measures in the 8 months prior to the survey—the highest percentage nationwide (US 37%).
  • Security cameras are the most popular form of property security (48%), followed by guard dogs (30%) and security systems (29%).
  • 16% of Californians say they use security doors or bars to protect their property compared to 9% nationwide.
"I keep hearing about things happening to strangers around me as well as people I know personally. I just think it's better to be safe than sorry given the world we are living in." —California resident*

Attitudes about natural disasters in California

Note: Our State of Safety survey was distributed in late summer 2024, before the 2025 L.A. wildfires.

The majority of Californians surveyed felt less worried about natural disasters than most Americans. Fires and smoke were the primary concern among our respondents.

  • 64% of Californians said they worried about earthquakes, making it the most concerned state nationwide (US 18%).
  • 70% of Californians worried about fires or smoke, making it the second most concerned state, behind Montana.
  • Californians are among the most concerned about drought (CA 56%, US 32%). New Mexico leads the way at 59%.
  • 20% of California residents worry about hurricanes (US 26%).
  • California is the third-highest state with concerns about extreme heat/cold (CA 68%, US 56%).

What security measures do Californians use most?

Top security measures used in California: security cameras, guard dogs, and security systems, compared to national trends

Top security measures used in California: security cameras, guard dogs, and security systems, compared to national trends. Image: SafeWise

How to stay safe in California

California is #7 in the US for property crime experiences.

Protect your property

California is #2 in the US for worry about having a package stolen.

Protect your packages

What crimes are California residents concerned about most?

Bar chart of top crime concerns in California, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates.

Bar chart of top crime concerns in California, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates. Image: SafeWise

Violent crime in California: Fear vs. reality

Californians are highly concerned about their safety and have the crime experiences to back it up, so it's no surprise that percentage of people using personal protection increased from 29% to 36% year over year (US 35%).

  • 72% of Californians said they are highly concerned about violent crime happening to them—that’s the highest level of concern in the US and up from 64% the previous year.
  • 15% of survey respondents said they had a personal experience with violent crime in the 8 months prior to the survey, more than double the previous year's percentage of 7%.
  • Of those who carry personal protection, 21% rely on pepper spray, with pocket knives being the second-most used at 12%.
  • Despite rising levels of concern, the percentage of Californians who said they feel safe in the state increased from 30% to 41% year over year.
"I don’t drive so I have to walk, and I’m concerned about being robbed or hurt." —California resident*

Attitudes about gun violence in California

  • Concern about gun violence increased 12 points year over year, from 54% to 66%.
  • There were 35 mass shooting incidents in California in 2024. That's down from 51 in 2023 but the second-highest number in the US behind Illinois, which had 36.
  • 17% of Californians use firearms to protect their property compared to the national average of 29%.
  • Only 2% of Californians said they carry firearms for personal protection, tying with New Jersey for the lowest percentage of firearm use in the country.
  • Californians worry less about gun violence compared to property crime and violent crime in general.
"I worry about gunshots or violence appearing out of nowhere." —California resident*

*Quotes collected from our most recent State of Safety survey

A closer look at the safest cities in California

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

  • 153 cities met criteria to be considered for ranking.
  • Rancho Santa Margarita is the safest city in California for the second year in a row. 
  • 4 cities reported zero murders and zero rapes: Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Yorba Linda, and Laguna Niguel.
  • All the safest cities reported fewer than 2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
  • 6 cities saw declines in both property crime and violent crime rates: Lincoln, Poway, San Marcos, Elk Grove, Murrieta, and Menifee.
  • Irvine has more than 316,000 residents, making its low per capita crime rates even more impressive.

The 20 safest cities in California

Map of the safest cities in California for 2025, listing top 20 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data.

Map of the safest cities in California for 2025, listing top 20 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data. Image: SafeWise

Rancho Santa Margarita, California
#1
Rancho Santa Margarita
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    46,157
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.5, 0.4, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    4.3, 4.8, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Danville, CA
#2
Danville
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    42,340
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.8, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    7.4, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Aliso Viejo, CA
#3
Aliso Viejo
(
-1
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    50,736
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.1, 0.9, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    7.1, 6.8, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Lincoln, CA
#4
Lincoln
(
+3
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    53,950
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.2, 1.7, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    7.0, 9.0, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Yorba Linda, CA
#5
Yorba Linda
(
-2
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    66,477
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.4, 0.5, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    11.5, 10.2, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Map of Calexico, California, one of the safest cities in 2025, showing its location.
#6
Calexico
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    38,108
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.1, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    8.2, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Laguna Niguel, CA
#7
Laguna Niguel
(
-3
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    63,502
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.0, 0.9, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.9, 10.5, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Simi Valley, CA
#8
Simi Valley
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    123,443
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.2, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.8, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of San Ramon, CA
#9
San Ramon
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    85,627
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.4, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.4, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Lake Forest, CA
#10
Lake Forest
(
-4
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    85,533
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.3, 1.2, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.9, 10.6, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Rocklin, CA
#11
Rocklin
(
-2
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    74,876
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.3, 1.1, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    10.7, 13.0, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Poway, CA
#12
Poway
(
-4
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    47,731
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.6, 1.7, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    8.5, 9.8, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of San Marcos, CA
#13
San Marcos
(
-1
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    94,838
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    2.1, 2.2, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    8.1, 10.8, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Irvine, CA
#14
Irvine
(
-4
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    316,132
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.8, 0.7, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    15.5, 15.1, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Mission Viejo, CA
#15
Mission Viejo
(
-10
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    90,944
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.4, 0.8, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    12.7, 11.4, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Murrieta, CA
#16
Murrieta
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    115,037
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.6, 2.7, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    12.0, 12.7, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Elk Grove, CA
#17
Elk Grove
(
-3
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    177,976
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, 2.0, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    12.2, 13.4, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Menifee, California
#18
Menifee
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    112,660
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.9, 2.8, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    12.0, 14.0, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of San Clemente, CA
#19
San Clemente
(
-6
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    63,061
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.5, 1.8, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    14.3, 12.3, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Geographic location of Pacifica California
#20
Pacifica
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    35,567
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    13.0, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Over 6 in 10 Americans surveyed don't have a home security system, despite over 50% of all burglaries being residential. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have a security system added it after they had a break-in. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens—and get immediate help if a break-in is detected—is to add a monitored home security system.

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Get a home security system

Find out which companies we recommend for every budget and lifestyle in our roundup of the best security systems—and learn the basics of how to choose a security system

Compare top security systems

Brand
Installation type
Self-monitoring option
Monthly cost Icon Tooltip  Dark
Contract required
Learn more
SimpliSafe
DIY
Icon Yes  LightYes
No
Vivint
Pro
Icon No  LightNo
No *
Cove
DIY
Icon No  LightNo
No *
ADT Shield
Pro
Icon No  LightNo
Yes

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Full ADT disclaimer

Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Find all endnotes and sources in our full methodology.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, "Documents & Downloads." Accessed March 17, 2025.

  • 2023 Crime in the United States Annual Reports
    • Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
  • 2023 NIBRS Estimation Tables

Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Gun Violence Archive, "Mass Shootings." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca is the Managing Editor and lead safety expert at SafeWise.com, where she's been researching, testing, and writing about home and personal security for over 12 years. Her safety smarts come from both real life and professional experience—as a single parent trying out safety and security gadgets to protect her family and a former college director responsible for safety plans and strategies to keep buildings, grounds, and hundreds of students and faculty safe every day. With 30 years of experience as a journalist and blogger, she's become a go-to source for trustworthy, practical advice on everything from the best home security systems and smart gadgets to keeping kids safe online, preventing package theft, and understanding crime trends nationwide. PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, NPR, Vice, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, HGTV, Marketplace, On the House, and more have featured Rebecca's expert insights and recommendations. Whether it's protecting your home, your loved ones, or your peace of mind, Rebecca makes safety simple, doable, and real.

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