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Vista, CA has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 316 per 100,000 — 348% above the national average.
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Vista, 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 Vista, CA safe? Vista has a violent crime rate of 316.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 348% higher than the national average and 34% below the California average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 863.8/100K. Population: 98,290.
FBI UCR Data Snapshot: Vista, CA
Vista, CA — reporting population 98,290 in 2024 — recorded 311 violent crimes and 849 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 316.4 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 863.8 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 250 incidents, robbery 50, murder 2, and rape 9 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (543), burglary (122), motor vehicle theft (184), and arson (7). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and larceny-theft leads Vista's mix at 46.8% of all Part I offenses.
Against the national violent crime average, Vista runs 348% above the US benchmark, and 34% below the California statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 85 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 316 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.
Is Vista, CA Safe? Safety Assessment
Based on 2024 FBI crime data, Vista, CA receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 348% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.
Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in Vista is approximately 1 in 85 , with a 1 in 316 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is larceny-theft, accounting for 47% 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
316.4/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+348% vs US
Property Crime Rate
863.8/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+152% vs US
Total Crimes
1,160
reported in 2024
Population
98,290
2024 Census-based estimate
Crime Breakdown (2024)
| Category | Count | Rate /100K |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 311 | 316.4 |
| Murder | 2 | 2 |
| Rape | 9 | 9.2 |
| Robbery | 50 | 50.9 |
| Aggravated Assault | 250 | 254.3 |
| Property Crime | 849 | 863.8 |
| Burglary | 122 | 124.1 |
| Larceny-Theft | 543 | 552.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 184 | 187.2 |
| Arson | 7 | 7.1 |
Per-Capita Risk Assessment
Overall Crime Risk
1 in 85
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 316
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)
Larceny-Theft 543 (46.8%)
Aggravated Assault 250 (21.6%)
Motor Vehicle Theft 184 (15.9%)
Burglary 122 (10.5%)
Robbery 50 (4.3%)
Rape 9 (0.8%)
Arson 7 (0.6%)
Murder 2 (0.2%)
Vista vs California vs National Average
Vista
Violent316.4/100K
Property863.8/100K
GradeF
California
Violent476.8/100K
Property1985.9/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K
Nearby Cities in California
Compare Vista against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.
Los Angeles
F Pop: 3,796,352
Violent: 728.5/100K
Property: 1483.9/100K
San Diego
F Pop: 1,389,024
Violent: 412.2/100K
Property: 1670/100K
San Jose
F Pop: 956,840
Violent: 606.8/100K
Property: 2587.9/100K
San Francisco
F Pop: 802,856
Violent: 596.5/100K
Property: 3929.1/100K
Fresno
F Pop: 546,722
Violent: 735.5/100K
Property: 3271.3/100K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Vista, CA? ▼
Vista has a violent crime rate of 316.4 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 863.8 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is Vista, CA safe? ▼
Vista receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 348% above the national average and 34% below the California average.
What is the population of Vista, CA? ▼
The reporting population for Vista is 98,290 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in Vista? ▼
In 2024, Vista reported 311 violent crimes and 849 property crimes, for a total of 1,160 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in Vista? ▼
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in Vista is approximately 1 in 85, with a 1 in 316 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 Vista? ▼
The most common crime type in Vista is larceny-theft, accounting for 46.8% of all reported crimes (543 incidents in 2024).
Understanding Crime Data
► ► ► ►
Understanding Crime Rates
How per-capita rates are calculated and what they mean
Violent vs Property Crime
Key differences between crime categories
FBI Crime Stats Explained
How the FBI collects and reports UCR data
Crime, Housing & Schools
How safety connects to housing costs and school quality
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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