Lancaster, CA has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 835 per 100,000 — 1082% above the national average.

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Lancaster, CA Crime Rate & Safety

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Crime data sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, covering violent crime, property crime, and individual offense categories. Safety grades reflect a composite analysis of violent and property crime rates benchmarked against national averages. For context on how crime statistics are collected and what they mean for community safety, read our guide to understanding FBI crime data.

Is Lancaster, CA safe? Lancaster has a violent crime rate of 834.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 1082% higher than the national average and 75% above the California average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 1920.6/100K. Population: 164,012.

FBI UCR Data Snapshot: Lancaster, CA

Lancaster, CA — reporting population 164,012 in 2024 — recorded 1,369 violent crimes and 3,150 property crimes in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Table 8 city-level submissions. The city's violent crime rate works out to 834.7 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 1920.6 per 100,000. Combining those two rates against national benchmarks yields a composite safety grade of F (High Risk), scoring 0 out of 100.

Within the violent crime count, aggravated assault accounted for 981 incidents, robbery 282, murder 29, and rape 77 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (1,121), burglary (631), motor vehicle theft (1,398), and arson (53). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and motor vehicle theft leads Lancaster's mix at 30.9% of all Part I offenses.

Against the national violent crime average, Lancaster runs 1082% above the US benchmark, and 75% above the California statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 36 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 120 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.

Is Lancaster, CA Safe? Safety Assessment

Based on 2024 FBI crime data, Lancaster, CA receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 1082% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.

Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in Lancaster is approximately 1 in 36 , with a 1 in 120 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is motor vehicle theft, accounting for 31% of all reported offenses.

Safety assessments are based on FBI UCR reported crime statistics. Actual safety varies by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances. Crime reporting rates differ across jurisdictions.

Safety Overview

Safety Grade
F
High Risk
Score: 0/100
Violent Crime Rate
834.7/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+1082% vs US
Property Crime Rate
1920.6/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+459% vs US
Total Crimes
4,519
reported in 2024
Population
164,012
2024 Census-based estimate

Crime Breakdown (2024)

Category Count Rate /100K
Violent Crime 1,369 834.7
Murder 29 17.7
Rape 77 46.9
Robbery 282 171.9
Aggravated Assault 981 598.1
Property Crime 3,150 1920.6
Burglary 631 384.7
Larceny-Theft 1,121 683.5
Motor Vehicle Theft 1,398 852.4
Arson 53 32.3

Per-Capita Risk Assessment

Overall Crime Risk
1 in 36
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 120
Statistical chance of being a violent crime victim

These are statistical averages based on reported crimes. Actual risk varies significantly by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances.

Crime Type Distribution (2024)

Motor Vehicle Theft 1,398 (30.9%)
Larceny-Theft 1,121 (24.8%)
Aggravated Assault 981 (21.7%)
Burglary 631 (14.0%)
Robbery 282 (6.2%)
Rape 77 (1.7%)
Arson 53 (1.2%)
Murder 29 (0.6%)

Lancaster vs California vs National Average

Lancaster
Violent834.7/100K
Property1920.6/100K
GradeF
California
Violent476.8/100K
Property1985.9/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K

Nearby Cities in California

Compare Lancaster against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Lancaster, CA?
Lancaster has a violent crime rate of 834.7 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1920.6 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is Lancaster, CA safe?
Lancaster receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 1082% above the national average and 75% above the California average.
What is the population of Lancaster, CA?
The reporting population for Lancaster is 164,012 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in Lancaster?
In 2024, Lancaster reported 1,369 violent crimes and 3,150 property crimes, for a total of 4,519 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in Lancaster?
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in Lancaster is approximately 1 in 36, with a 1 in 120 chance of being a violent crime victim. These are statistical averages and actual risk varies by neighborhood and circumstance.
What is the most common crime in Lancaster?
The most common crime type in Lancaster is motor vehicle theft, accounting for 30.9% of all reported crimes (1,398 incidents in 2024).

Understanding Crime Data

Explore More Data for CA

Data as of 2024. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Crime rates are calculated per 100,000 population. Not all agencies report complete data. FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures referenced from U.S. Census Bureau estimates where noted; state-level comparisons cross-check against state UCR programs.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

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