Safest Cities in California

Top 50 cities (≥10,000 pop) by lowest FBI UCR violent crime rate per 100,000 · 2024. Lead: Palos Verdes Estates at 24.1/100K.

FBI UCR Safest-Cities Snapshot: California

California lists 50 cities with 10,000+ population for 2024, spanning Palos Verdes Estates at 24.1/100K violent down to Oakley at 146.1/100K on this cut. That is a 122/100K spread inside the safest cohort alone, not a single statewide rate. Cohort average: 100.5 violent offenses per 100,000 residents.

Palos Verdes Estates reported 3 violent and 98 property offenses on a 12,432 reporting population in 2024. Property rate 788.3/100K sits beside the 24.1/100K violent rate. Top five on the table: Palos Verdes Estates, San Marino, Canyon Lake, Orinda, Laguna Woods.

Palos Verdes Estates offense desk

Palos Verdes Estates's 2024 violent book concentrates in aggravated assault (67% of 3 Part I violent offenses; mix index 5,556).

Palos Verdes Estates's violent rate rose 202.6% vs 2023 (8.0 → 24.1 per 100K) while staying #1 on this California list.

Palos Verdes Estates violent offense mix (2024)

Mix index is HHI × 10,000 on Part I violent shares for the #1 city only, distinct from the per-100K ranking table.

# City GradePopulationViolent Crime RateProperty Crime Rate
1 Palos Verdes Estates A+ 12,432 24.1/100K 788.3/100K
2 San Marino A 11,816 33.9/100K 1176.4/100K
3 Canyon Lake A 11,100 45/100K 756.8/100K
4 Orinda A 19,314 57/100K 880.2/100K
5 Laguna Woods A 16,797 59.5/100K 893/100K
6 Danville A 42,814 63.1/100K 583.9/100K
7 Piedmont B 10,435 67.1/100K 3402/100K
8 Foster City A 31,680 69.4/100K 669.2/100K
9 Imperial A+ 21,980 77.3/100K 182/100K
10 Los Altos A 29,551 77.8/100K 1211.5/100K
11 Diamond Bar A 51,126 78.2/100K 1862.1/100K
12 Lafayette A 24,934 80.2/100K 1267.3/100K
13 Rancho Santa Margarita A 45,633 81.1/100K 523.7/100K
14 Irvine A 316,764 84/100K 1389.7/100K
15 Clayton A 10,655 84.5/100K 506.8/100K
16 San Ramon A 84,452 86.4/100K 1113.1/100K
17 La Canada Flintridge A 19,229 88.4/100K 1518.5/100K
18 Saratoga A 29,185 89.1/100K 599.6/100K
19 Moraga A 16,438 91.3/100K 486.7/100K
20 Rancho Palos Verdes A 39,289 91.6/100K 883.2/100K
21 Yorba Linda A 65,469 93.2/100K 765.2/100K
22 Hillsborough A 10,728 93.2/100K 680.5/100K
23 Eastvale A 70,669 93.4/100K 1729.2/100K
24 Mill Valley A 13,658 95.2/100K 1003.1/100K
25 Lincoln A 56,152 96.2/100K 561/100K
26 Moorpark A 35,312 99.1/100K 713.6/100K
27 Mission Viejo A 89,699 99.2/100K 1186.2/100K
28 Thousand Oaks A 122,363 102.2/100K 1020.7/100K
29 Wildomar A 37,145 102.3/100K 1020.3/100K
30 Solana Beach A 12,592 103.2/100K 1167.4/100K
31 Cupertino A 56,375 111.8/100K 1566.3/100K
32 Calimesa B 11,503 113/100K 1738.7/100K
33 Pleasanton B 73,054 115/100K 1676.8/100K
34 Newman A 12,146 115.3/100K 428.1/100K
35 Central Marin B 34,703 123.9/100K 1775.1/100K
36 Agoura Hills A 19,229 124.8/100K 894.5/100K
37 Laguna Niguel A 62,363 126.7/100K 904.4/100K
38 Walnut B 26,702 127.3/100K 1891.2/100K
39 Camarillo A 69,115 128.8/100K 1190.8/100K
40 Simi Valley A 124,707 129.1/100K 923.8/100K
41 Benicia A 26,207 133.6/100K 1030.3/100K
42 Poway A 47,808 133.9/100K 583.6/100K
43 Aliso Viejo A 49,674 134.9/100K 867.7/100K
44 Chino Hills A 76,802 138/100K 975.2/100K
45 Albany B 18,735 138.8/100K 2492.7/100K
46 Pacific Grove A 14,649 143.4/100K 907.9/100K
47 Pacifica B 35,759 145.4/100K 1306/100K
48 Norco B 25,405 145.6/100K 2542.8/100K
49 Lake Forest A 85,811 145.7/100K 829.7/100K
50 Oakley A 46,548 146.1/100K 966.7/100K

California overview · Most dangerous cities · National safest cities · Methodology - FBI UCR Part I rates; cities ≥10,000 pop; 2024.