The 5 Most Dangerous Cities in California: Where Crime Rates Soar

California, known for its beautiful coastlines and bustling cities, also has its fair share of crime hotspots. While many locations benefit from tourism, culture, and economic expansion, some communities struggle with high crime rates, raising safety concerns.

From violent crimes to property theft, numerous communities face considerable issues that differentiate them in crime statistics. Understanding these problem locations is critical for residents, visitors, and law enforcement as they seek to create safer neighborhoods.

In this guide, we’ll look at the five most dangerous cities in California, analyzing their crime statistics, the unique variables that contribute to their position, and initiatives to enhance safety. Let’s take a deeper look at where these cities are in 2024.

1. Commerce

• Population: 11,787.
• Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 1,552 (Most risky).
• Property Crimes Per 100,000: 13,862 (second most hazardous).
• Murders: six.

Commerce, located just southeast of Los Angeles, is known as “The Model City,” yet it has a long way to go before it can be considered a model for crime rates. Over a year, any given citizen has a one in seven chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, which is the second highest rate in California.

Commerce’s violent crime, on the other hand, has been steadily declining in recent years, but it remains high enough to rank as the most violent place in California in 2022. At least no one needs to resort to pickpocketing for bus fare, as Commerce is one of the few cities in California that provides free bus transportation.

2. Oakland

• Population: 428,374.
• Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 1,521 (second most hazardous).
• Property Crimes Per 100,000: 6,474 (fifth most hazardous).
• Murders: 121.

Oakland has a poor reputation for being extremely hazardous, but in this case, the stereotype is all too accurate. With an overall crime rate 150% greater than the national average, a murder every five days on average, and California’s sixth-highest incidence of property crime, the statistics make it clear that Bump City is not safe.

On the positive side, Oakland still offers lots of family-friendly attractions where you don’t have to continuously glance over your shoulder, such as the entertainment and business district, Jack London Square on the city’s waterfront, and the Oakland Zoo near Grass Valley.

3. Crescent City

• Population: 6,732.
• Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 1,218 (sixth most dangerous)
• Property Crimes Per 100,000: 6,045 (eighth most hazardous).
• Murders: zero.

Crescent City is a great area to reside just because of its location. The village is located in the state’s far north, less than a half-hour south of the Oregon border, on the Pacific coast. It’s even named after a neighboring crescent-shaped beach.

I wish you could live there alone. Unfortunately, Crescent City residents have reason to distrust their neighbors. After all, this is the fourth most deadly area in California.

For a population of only 6,732, the area saw 82 violent crimes. This included 6 sexual assaults, making it the 19th scariest rate in this terrible category.

4. West Hollywood

• Population: 34,185.
• Violent Crimes per 100,000: 947 (17th most dangerous).
• Property Crimes Per 100,000: 6,602 (fourth most hazardous).
• Murders: zero.

Hollywood is known for making films that depict insane quantities of violence and property devastation, but the actual West Hollywood is a hotbed of such behavior in its way. West Hollywood has the fourth highest property crime rate in the state and the 57th greatest number of rape incidents.

West Hollywood partially compensates for these dismal results by having one of the lowest rates of violent crime on this list, as well as an 8/10 overall SnackAbility score. Furthermore, it is home to one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the country, and the Sunset Strip is a fantastic site to spend the day.

5. Red Bluff

• Population: 14,529.
• Violent Crimes per 100,000: 915 (19th most dangerous).
• Property Crimes per 100,000: 4,969 (12th most hazardous).
• Murders: One

Red Bluff, located on the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley, ranks as California’s eighth most dangerous place. While not a major city or even close to one, Red Bluff had a shockingly high rate of violent crime in 2022, ranking 19th statewide. So, if you’re going for a day trip to the Sacramento River Bend, there are two reasons you should bring some bear mace.

Property crime is significantly less prevalent in Red Bluff, but a 1 in 20 probability of being robbed or having your property harmed is not ideal. Unfortunately, Red Bluff had the sixth-highest rate of rape cases reported in California in 2022.