California's 50 Safest Cities of 2019

SafeWise Update: Earthquake Response Tips

July 9, 2019

Californians have been shaken to the core by two large-scale earthquakes in two days. There are reports of emergency supply stores running out of earthquake emergency kits, but there’s still hope if all your neighbors beat you to the store.

Find out how to put your own kit together with our emergency kit guide. And read our earthquake preparation guide for more tips to help you prep your home and family for another shaker.

SafeWise is happy to release our fifth annual Safest Cities report. Here are the 50 Safest Cities in California for 2019. See if your city made the list.

California saw some big challenges in 2018—and one of our safest cities, Thousand Oaks, went through two major events. This community faced a mass shooting and a devastating wildfire. But it was able to limit both violent and property crime to below state and national averages in 2017, making it our 28th safest California city.

Overall 86% of this year’s safest cities are on the list for the second consecutive year. And Northern California gained one more city this year, to claim 40% of the state’s safest cities—plus the number one city, Danville, is from the north. But Southern California continues to dominate, with 30 of its cities making the list.

The five safest cities in California in 2019 are Danville, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita, Yorba Linda, and Murrieta.

Take a look at the full list to find out how your city ranks, and whether it’s one of the Golden State’s safest places to live.

Interesting Findings

Every city on the list had fewer than two violent crimes per 1,000 people, and 26% saw fewer than one.
California’s violent crime rate is slightly higher (4.51) than the national rate of 4.49.
At 26.08, the state beats the national property crime rate of 27.11.
92% of cities had lower property crime rates than both state and national averages.
Despite lower property crime rates, Californians ranked property crime as their biggest safety concern on our State of Safety survey, with 64% ranking it number one—that’s five points above the national average.
21% of respondents cited personal experience with property crime in the past year, and 16% reported experiencing a violent crime.

California’s Earthquake Fear Factor

Earthquakes were the number two environmental concern of Californians on our State of Safety report—60% named quakes their biggest natural disaster fear, coming in behind air quality with 72%.

pie chart showing percentage of cities in northern and southern california

The 50 Safest Cities in California

Population 45,088

Median Income $152,798

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.35

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 7.83

Population 276,115

Median Income $95,573

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.61

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 13.16

Population 49,144

Median Income $106,939

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.65

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 6.67

Population 68,889

Median Income $123,962

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.65

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 10.36

Population 113,016

Median Income $80,373

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.71

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 14.00

Population 76,325

Median Income $142,718

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.73

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 12.76

Population 42,563

Median Income $124,552

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.78

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 10.48

Population 78,155

Median Income $106,718

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.82

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 15.73

Population 65,700

Median Income $99,206

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.82

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 8.72

Population 51,984

Median Income $106,353

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.85

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 7.58

Population 79,480

Median Income $102,746

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.88

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 17.14

Population 62,422

Median Income $110,685

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.88

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 21.13

Population 47,741

Median Income $78,647

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 0.92

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 12.67

Population 56,996

Median Income $94,531

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.00

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 18.30

Population 115,220

Median Income $87,115

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.02

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 22.69

Population 63,735

Median Income $91,995

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.04

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 17.81

Population 96,928

Median Income $107,988

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.04

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 10.00

Population 50,438

Median Income $102,338

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.15

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 11.42

Population 84,440

Median Income $138,269

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.17

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 19.67

Population 154,919

Median Income $118,314

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.17

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 17.31

Population 56,704

Median Income $86,602

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.20

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 27.88

Population 34,808

Median Income $136,383

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.24

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 10.03

Population 41,509

Median Income $89,392

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.25

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 11.78

Population 60,970

Median Income $153,449

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.26

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 15.91

Population 36,813

Median Income $102,145

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.30

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 9.02

Population 35,060

Median Income $104,703*

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.31

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 25.44

Population 169,164

Median Income $73,594

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.32

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 19.49

Population 129,240

Median Income $103,793

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.33

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 13.05

Population 67,441

Median Income $147,537

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.33

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 26.44

Population 202,381

Median Income $58,657

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.35

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 15.41

Population 90,403

Median Income $60,808

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.36

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 21.81

Population 62,235

Median Income $138,007

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.37

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 19.20

Population 68,540

Median Income $63,071

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.37

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 23.62

Population 53,614

Median Income $58,166

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.38

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 17.29

Population 65,596

Median Income $101,843

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.39

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 12.38

Population 38,619

Median Income $98,102

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.40

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 16.03

Population 49,064

Median Income $90,345

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.41

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 14.80

Population 86,910

Median Income $119,379

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.43

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 24.43

Population 79,503

Median Income $110,752

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.43

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 24.88

Population 126,635

Median Income $93,516

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.45

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 14.40

Population 36,500

Median Income $69,853

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.48

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 15.12

Population 69,953

Median Income $86,845

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.50

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 32.94

Population 36,683

Median Income $67,510

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.53

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 18.62

Population 141,130

Median Income $83,500

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.54

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 18.31

Population 34,195

Median Income $132,928

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.55

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 19.18

Population 84,224

Median Income $93,963

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.58

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 8.99

Population 67,714

Median Income $92,780

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.58

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 16.04

Population 45,277

Median Income $107,161

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.59

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 15.95

Population 41,528

Median Income $76,131

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.61

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 28.82

Population 56,698

Median Income $89,812

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) 1.62

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) 16.35

How We Determined the Safest Cities

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

Beyond Safest Cities: What Are the Biggest Safety Concerns in Your State?

Crime statistics are one thing, but do they line up with what people are really worried about when it comes to safety? To find out, SafeWise conducted a nationwide survey. See what the biggest safety concern is in your state—and learn more about what your neighbors are nervous about—in our State of Safety report.

If you would like to contact a SafeWise Safest Cities Analyst, please email info@safewise.com.

How to Make a Safe Home Anywhere

Wherever you live, feeling safe in your home can bring greater peace of mind and happiness. Whether your city made our list or not, we recommend adding extra security to your home with monitored security services.

To learn more about the home security options available to you, check out SafeWise’s picks for Best Home Security Systems.

Didn’t Find Your City in the Top 50?

See how the remaining cities ranked in the list below.

Rank	City	Population	Violent Crime (per 1,000)	Property Crime (per 1,000)
51	Tustin	81,246	1.62	23.99
52	Santa Clarita	216,350	1.63	14.24
53	Encinitas	63,722	1.66	14.52
54	Santa Clara	127,538	1.68	28.37
55	Placentia	52,437	1.70	16.48
56	Palm Desert	52,845	1.72	39.28
57	Roseville	135,028	1.76	24.60
58	Monrovia	37,214	1.77	22.79
59	Torrance	147,482	1.81	21.74
60	Fremont	236,368	1.82	21.50
61	Monterey Park	61,210	1.83	26.35
62	Livermore	90,485	1.83	21.85
63	Mountain View	81,525	1.84	24.31
64	Rancho Cucamonga	178,308	1.85	23.44
65	Arcadia	58,883	1.87	26.05
66	Dana Point	34,123	1.88	15.09
67	Newark	46,360	1.90	32.31
68	San Dimas	34,499	1.94	21.30
69	Manhattan Beach	35,843	1.98	24.41
70	Vacaville	99,293	1.99	21.23
71	Alhambra	85,865	2.00	21.86
72	San Marcos	97,290	2.00	11.68
73	Claremont	36,246	2.04	25.93
74	Fullerton	141,637	2.07	27.90
75	La Mirada	49,328	2.11	18.37
76	Tracy	90,263	2.14	24.14
77	Carlsbad	115,344	2.14	19.15
78	Pacifica	39,353	2.19	13.42
79	Calexico	40,499	2.20	31.61
80	La Habra	61,878	2.21	20.22
81	Clovis	108,419	2.24	26.70
82	San Juan Capistrano	36,532	2.24	12.26
83	Huntington Beach	202,244	2.28	21.19
84	Bell Gardens	42,930	2.33	17.45
85	Pleasant Hill	35,136	2.36	49.49
86	San Jacinto	47,932	2.38	33.48
87	Burbank	104,622	2.42	28.14
88	Redwood City	86,353	2.42	16.10
89	Daly City	107,355	2.47	14.54
90	Perris	77,626	2.47	24.18
91	Glendora	52,133	2.47	29.41
92	Campbell	41,192	2.48	32.53
93	Cerritos	50,809	2.50	44.64
94	Cathedral City	54,506	2.51	14.11
95	Brentwood	62,120	2.53	23.97
96	Chino	89,420	2.54	23.95
97	West Covina	108,128	2.54	25.28
98	San Mateo	105,090	2.55	20.22
99	Redondo Beach	68,051	2.59	23.07
100	Jurupa Valley	104,922	2.59	25.36
101	Santee	58,563	2.65	14.79
102	La Mesa	60,425	2.65	19.74
103	Brea	43,000	2.65	33.49
104	Seaside	34,519	2.67	14.86
105	Lake Elsinore	66,136	2.68	32.43
106	San Bruno	43,274	2.80	25.81
107	Coachella	45,646	2.80	25.00
108	San Gabriel	40,531	2.81	16.43
109	Azusa	50,202	2.93	23.96
110	Chula Vista	271,109	2.98	14.32
111	Upland	77,154	3.01	26.84
112	Redlands	71,707	3.01	36.66
113	Westminster	91,863	3.06	30.75
114	Woodland	59,676	3.13	31.19
115	Apple Valley	73,105	3.16	21.41
116	Rosemead	54,615	3.17	24.30
117	Alameda	79,761	3.17	29.43
118	Costa Mesa	113,267	3.19	37.95
119	Montebello	63,473	3.20	25.90
120	Elk Grove	172,620	3.24	13.01
121	Manteca	78,564	3.26	28.51
122	San Rafael	59,144	3.28	27.51
123	Union City	76,311	3.34	22.09
124	Napa	80,958	3.36	16.71
125	Downey	113,511	3.37	28.38
126	Highland	55,229	3.37	19.59
127	Fontana	211,782	3.37	17.64
128	Beverly Hills	34,781	3.39	52.30
129	Garden Grove	175,466	3.43	24.78
130	Whittier	87,141	3.44	28.77
131	Hollister	38,310	3.45	10.34
132	Visalia	132,143	3.46	33.27
133	South San Francisco	67,533	3.46	23.77
134	Hayward	161,417	3.49	31.12
135	Buena Park	83,552	3.49	33.68
136	Covina	48,674	3.53	24.24
137	Anaheim	353,400	3.55	26.30
138	Concord	129,789	3.56	34.05
139	Vista	103,004	3.59	14.50
140	Los Banos	37,910	3.64	28.30
141	La Puente	40,467	3.66	10.97
142	Stanton	38,767	3.66	16.74
143	San Diego	1,424,116	3.67	18.43
144	Pico Rivera	63,746	3.70	22.46
145	Gilroy	56,163	3.70	29.34
146	West Sacramento	53,703	3.71	21.19
147	San Luis Obispo	47,934	3.71	37.18
148	Escondido	152,845	3.77	17.04
149	Yuba City	67,042	3.80	32.92
150	Petaluma	60,957	3.82	15.52
151	Rialto	103,980	3.84	16.20
152	Moreno Valley	207,418	3.85	30.64
153	El Monte	116,168	3.88	24.24
154	Beaumont	46,856	3.88	18.61
155	Lakewood	81,317	3.91	29.78
156	Oceanside	176,815	3.93	23.12
157	Citrus Heights	88,126	3.96	31.57
158	Tulare	63,349	4.01	26.88
159	Pasadena	142,891	4.02	20.62
160	Hesperia	94,292	4.03	22.45
161	San Jose	1,037,529	4.04	24.41
162	Santa Barbara	92,508	4.08	27.01
163	Santa Rosa	176,361	4.09	18.40
164	El Cajon	104,447	4.11	22.31
165	Norwalk	106,278	4.11	18.40
166	Rancho Cordova	73,607	4.14	19.16
167	El Centro	44,458	4.16	40.94
168	Porterville	59,245	4.17	25.91
169	Ventura	110,006	4.18	33.07
170	Palmdale	158,094	4.31	16.82
171	Oxnard	209,513	4.33	25.43
172	Santa Maria	107,424	4.43	21.91
173	Colton	55,127	4.44	26.10
174	Chico	92,459	4.47	38.86
175	Baldwin Park	76,636	4.54	18.33
176	Culver City	39,440	4.64	47.82
177	Bellflower	77,984	4.65	25.49
178	Ceres	48,673	4.66	32.89
179	Fairfield	116,372	4.69	27.94
180	Delano	52,639	4.71	24.96
181	Pittsburg	71,944	4.74	24.55
182	Bakersfield	381,154	4.79	40.68
183	National City	61,574	4.81	18.79
184	Santa Ana	335,699	4.89	20.90
185	Lodi	65,042	4.97	25.84
186	Rohnert Park	42,922	5.08	19.38
187	Riverside	328,023	5.09	30.58
188	Hanford	55,789	5.09	24.36
189	Carson	92,992	5.11	24.20
190	Hemet	85,166	5.37	36.43
191	Antioch	112,252	5.41	34.19
192	Berkeley	122,687	5.43	49.07
193	Watsonville	54,226	5.50	31.55
194	Lompoc	43,948	5.53	22.16
195	Pomona	153,066	5.57	29.29
196	Fresno	526,371	5.65	38.41
197	San Leandro	91,386	5.73	40.65
198	Madera	64,939	5.82	26.21
199	Montclair	39,318	5.85	39.02
200	Paramount	55,041	5.89	29.31
201	Palm Springs	48,193	6.02	40.73
202	Turlock	73,488	6.08	31.24
203	Santa Cruz	65,132	6.28	56.56
204	Bell	35,925	6.35	18.15
205	Lynwood	71,453	6.41	23.53
206	Salinas	158,313	6.45	30.29
207	Gardena	60,249	6.52	23.12
208	Long Beach	471,397	6.58	26.72
209	Hawthorne	88,664	6.62	25.64
210	Sacramento	499,997	6.76	29.37
211	Merced	83,180	6.77	32.08
212	West Hollywood	37,093	6.85	45.97
213	Victorville	123,284	6.99	26.91
214	South Gate	95,717	7.04	32.71
215	Inglewood	110,811	7.08	24.91
216	Indio	90,055	7.10	25.40
217	Redding	92,127	7.10	41.69
218	San Francisco	881,255	7.15	61.68
219	Huntington Park	59,004	7.24	30.79
220	Santa Monica	92,935	7.59	47.07
221	Lancaster	160,653	7.59	20.65
222	Los Angeles	4,007,147	7.61	25.36
223	Vallejo	122,174	8.58	37.63
224	Richmond	110,804	9.15	37.25
225	Modesto	213,677	9.71	39.62
226	Compton	97,728	11.91	26.43
227	San Bernardino	217,259	12.91	38.68
228	Oakland	424,915	12.99	59.83

Find the Safest Cities in Each State

Click on the state image below to check out our “Safest City” winners for each state.

Sources:

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, “2017 Crime in the United States”
SafeWise’s, “2019 State of Safety”
US Census Bureau, “2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates“

Written by Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. Her safety expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. ou can find her work and contributions in places like TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, HGTV, MSN, and an ever-growing library of radio and TV clips. Learn more

Jonathon

Thank you mostly to The Rocklin Police Department!
https://www.bitchute.com/profile/NQaDelvqP8NM Kauni

You have got to be joking here!!
A Sanctuary State is SAFE????
How about telling the truth for a change? People are leaving CA ..100s every day…info all suppressed…
- StormyWeather
  
  You misunderstand. They are driving the anti-American republicans out of CA. They are not welcome in CA and everyone is ecstatic to see them go! White supremacists get out! The fifth healthiest economy in the World will not tolerate hateful republicans.
  - Liberty
    
    CA is welcoming criminals only. 🙂 CA is being destroyed.
    - Joni Murphy
      
      A sad narrative but not true. There are other places though If you’re that unhappy.
- Joni Murphy
  
  People who think like you can’t leave fast enough. I love it here. Always have. So do my children and grandchildren. And my siblings. It’s a wonderful place to live.
Al

How come there’s no Chino Hills on the list?
Paulson Lee

Wonder why Walnut Creek is not on the list??
Joni Murphy

Sad to see Lincoln move down the list. 13 is still something to be proud of. I hope we can move back up. I love my little town.
Joni Murphy

Get to know your neighbors. Watch out for each other. Support local law enforcement. Vote. Get involved in city government. My city is number 13. It may not be perfect. We have some of the issues you mentioned but overall it’s a great place to live.
Mike Mann

A list in which Oakland, Pomona, Palmdale, and Bellflower are all “safer” than La Verne lol Not exactly a good measurement if that’s the case. I know from experience. It is not even close.
- Meximus
  
  I noticed that as well, very odd. Pomona should be nowhere near the top 50! They must have left off the last zero.
Molly Michela Spina

…Central Marin isn’t a city. It’s a part of the county made up of a few cities. Maybe more Northern California cities would have made the list if you didn’t lump them together.
Stephen J

GOOD JOB RSM!

California’s 50 Safest Cities of 2019