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C+

Is Bell Gardens, California Safe?

Population 37,367 · Safer than 41% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 37,367, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Bell Gardens earns a C+ with violent crime below the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,422 per 100K.

Bell Gardens Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBell GardensCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate256.2333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1749.72099.21,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate173.0--268.2
Theft Rate1422.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate197.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

200.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

256/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1750/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bell Gardens

Violent crime in Bell Gardens is below the national average. The rate of 256.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1749.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,422 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bell Gardens Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault173
065% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery38
060% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary227
084% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,422
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft197
062% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Bell Gardens Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bell Gardens
256.2
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bell Gardens
1749.7
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Bell Gardens Safety

Is Bell Gardens safe?
It depends on where in Bell Gardens you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Bell Gardens?
200.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 256.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1749.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bell Gardens safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Bell Gardens has a C+ grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bell Gardens?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bell Gardens generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bell Gardens police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bell Gardens?
No. Crime in Bell Gardens has been trending down, which is good news for the C+-rated city.
How does Bell Gardens compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Bell Gardens ranks behind about 68% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Bell Gardens 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 Bell Gardens?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 41th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Bell Gardens?
256.2 per 100,000, which is 30% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (173), robbery (38), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

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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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