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C

Is Berkeley, California Safe?

Population 121,911 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Berkeley earns a C safety grade with 211.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs below the national average, putting the city behind 64% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,541 per 100K.

Berkeley Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBerkeleyCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate279.2333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1836.62099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate187.0--268.2
Theft Rate1541.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate217.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

211.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

279/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1837/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Berkeley

Violent crime in Berkeley is below the national average. The rate of 279.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1836.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,541 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Berkeley Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault187
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery60
095% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary213
079% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,541
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft217
068% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Berkeley Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Berkeley
279.2
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Berkeley
1836.6
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Berkeley Safety

Is Berkeley safe?
Not especially. Berkeley earns a C with a crime rate of 211.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Berkeley?
211.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 279.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1836.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Berkeley safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Berkeley 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 Berkeley?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Berkeley generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Berkeley police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Berkeley?
No. Crime in Berkeley has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Berkeley compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Berkeley ranks behind about 61% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Berkeley 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 Berkeley?
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 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Berkeley?
279.2 per 100,000, which is 23% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (187), robbery (60), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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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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