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D

Is Bakersfield, California Safe?

Population 422,165 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate below the national average, Bakersfield faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 82% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 2,014 per 100K.

Bakersfield Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBakersfieldCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate285.1333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2344.52099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate177.0--268.2
Theft Rate2014.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate467.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

263 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

285/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2345/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bakersfield

Violent crime in Bakersfield is below the national average. The rate of 285.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2344.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,014 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bakersfield Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault177
066% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery64
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary365
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,014
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft467
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Bakersfield Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bakersfield
285.1
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bakersfield
2344.5
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bakersfield Safety

Is Bakersfield safe?
Not especially. Bakersfield earns a D with a crime rate of 263 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bakersfield?
263 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 285.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2344.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bakersfield safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bakersfield's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,014 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bakersfield generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bakersfield police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bakersfield?
No. Crime in Bakersfield has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Bakersfield compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Bakersfield ranks behind about 89% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Bakersfield to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Bakersfield?
Bad. A D grade and 263 per-thousand rate put Bakersfield below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 285 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bakersfield?
285.1 per 100,000, which is 22% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (177), robbery (64), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in California

Similar-sized communities in California. Compare crime rates across the state.

F
See crime rates in Oakland440,838 pop · Grade F
D+
See crime rates in Long Beach450,469 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Anaheim341,008 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Stockton324,597 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Riverside323,057 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Irvine318,764 pop · Grade D-
View all California city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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