The Top 8 Most Dangerous Cities in California with Crime Rate By City

California is home to some of the most iconic cities in the world, but unfortunately, not all of them boast a safe environment. In this article, we will be shedding light on the eight cities in California that have been ranked as the most dangerous in 2023 based on their crime rates.

8 Most Dangerous Cities in California

Emeryville

Emeryville, a city with a population of only 12,905, has been deemed the most perilous city in California, with a staggering violent crime rate of 6,284 per 100,000 residents. The majority of crimes committed in Emeryville are related to property theft and vehicle theft. In the year 2022, there were approximately 12,500 reported cases of theft and nearly 800 reported incidents of violent crime.

Emeryville, with its small population, sees a high rate of violent crime, with approximately 1 in 15 citizens falling victim to such incidents. This unfortunate statistic makes Emeryville one of the most violent cities in the United States.

Stockton

Stockton, a city located in San Joaquin County with a population of 320,804, is considered one of the most dangerous cities in California’s Central Valley region. The crime rate in Stockton is significantly higher than both the US and state average. Shockingly, in 2021, the violent crime rate was reported to be 12.62 per 1,000 people, which means that the chances of one becoming a victim is 1 in 79. Property crime is also alarmingly high, with over 9,000 reported incidents of property crime in 2021 alone.

Oakland

Oakland, California is infamous for being one of the most dangerous cities in the United States due to its exceptionally high crime rates. Despite a decrease in crime since the 1990s, Oakland still has crime statistics that are significantly higher than the national average. In fact, as of 2021, the violent crime rate in Oakland was recorded at 1,453 per 100,000 residents, making it a city with one of the highest crime rates in the country. Additionally, Oakland has been identified as one of the worst cities in California due to its alarming crime rate.

Oakland is a bustling commercial center situated in Alameda County, California. It is a significant hub for commerce in the East Bay Area and has a population of 440,646 residents. As the eighth-largest city in California and the third-largest in the Bay Area, Oakland’s importance cannot be underestimated.

In the city, the most frequently reported crimes include vehicle theft, property theft, burglary, and assault. Unfortunately, gun violence is a major concern in many areas of the city. Gang activity is largely responsible for much of the gun violence in Oakland.

Bakersfield

Located near California’s San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield is known to be one of the most perilous cities in California. With a population of approximately 405,000, the city has an overall crime rate that is 94% higher than the national average. Due to this, Bakersfield has developed a reputation for being one of California’s most hazardous cities.

According to Bakersfield Now, a local news agency, property crime incidents in Bakersfield exceeded 15,000 in 2021. However, there’s some good news as the city saw a 30% reduction in homicides in 2022 compared to the previous year. It’s worth noting that gang activity has been a persistent issue in Bakersfield and is largely responsible for the rampant violence in the area.

San Bernardino

San Bernadino, a city in California, is known for its high crime rate and violence. With a population of 222,101, the city’s crime rate is 79% higher than the national average. Unfortunately, San Bernadino has seen a surge in violent crimes, such as robbery and murder, with an increase of up to 39% from 2017 to 2022. Although property crime has decreased since 2017, crimes like aggravated assault have spiked by as much as 145%, making San Bernadino one of the most dangerous cities to reside in California.

Merced

Merced, situated in the Central Valley, is known for its high crime rate, making it one of the worst cities in California in terms of safety. With a population of 86,333, the city has a crime rate of 599 per 1,000 people, which is quite alarming.

Merced has been marked as one of the most violent metropolitan areas in the US due to consistently high crime rates dating back to the 1990s. Although property crime in the city has plummeted by up to 20% since the year 2020, the number of violent crimes has been on the rise. According to FBI records, murders in Merced almost doubled from 2019 to 2020.

Richmond

Located in the San Francisco Bay area, Richmond is unfortunately known for being one of the most perilous cities in California. With a population of 110,567, this city has a crime rate that is 82% higher than the national average, making it one of the least desirable places to reside in the Bay area.

Richmond is a relatively cost-effective option in the vicinity of San Francisco. However, the city is notorious for its high level of violent crime. In fact, the violent crime rate in 2020 was 149% higher than the national average. Additionally, thousands of incidents related to vehicle and property theft were reported in the same year.

Although Richmond is considered to be safer than its neighboring city, Oakland, it is still known as one of the most dangerous places in California and the Bay Area. Most residents of Richmond believe that the northeastern part of the city is comparatively safer, while the central part of the city, known as the “Iron Triangle,” has a higher concentration of crime.

Modesto

Modesto, situated north of Merced, is known to be one of the most perilous cities in California. With a population of roughly 219,000, it has a crime rate of 32.24 per 1,000 individuals.

Modesto has a crime rate that is 37% higher than the national average, and it is known for its high incidents of property crime and theft. As per the FBI statistics from 2021, Modesto had more than 5,000 reported incidents of property crime and over 1,600 incidents of violent crime. One of the significant problems in Modesto is its high car theft rate, which is one of the highest in California. In 2020, there were 2,091 car thefts, which amounted to 389 per 1,000 people, a number that is way above the national average.

Methodology Used to Identify the Most Dangerous Cities in California

In order to identify the California’s most dangerous cities for the year 2023, we conducted a thorough analysis of crime rates in each city, taking into account the number of thefts, burglaries and murders per capita. Despite the fact that bigger cities such as Los Angeles may witness a higher number of reported crimes, smaller ones might have a larger proportion of criminal activities, rendering them statistically more hazardous.

The information presented here is based on the latest statistics obtained from the FBI Uniform Crime Report and data released by city and county governments.

Read More: Top 8 Most Dangerous Cities with the Highest Crime Rates in Ontario

Most Dangerous Cities in California: Bottom Line

Although the lower real estate prices of certain cities in California may seem appealing, it’s essential to consider safety. Moving somewhere just because it’s affordable can lead to residing in one of California’s most dangerous cities with high rates of violent crime. Therefore, it’s crucial to research and evaluate a city’s safety before making any decisions.

It’s crucial to remember that even the most dangerous cities can have secure zones. On the other hand, some cities that didn’t make it to our lists, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, can possess highly hazardous neighbourhoods. Take Richmond, for instance, which has certain areas considered safe, while crime is more concentrated in other parts.

Read More: 10 Dangerous Cities in Michigan with the Highest Crime Rates