CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C-

Is Carson, California Safe?

Population 90,808 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Carson, California sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 230.9 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,423 per 100K.

Carson Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCarsonCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate248.1333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2061.02099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate169.0--268.2
Theft Rate1423.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate244.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

230.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

248/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2061/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Carson

Violent crime in Carson is below the national average. The rate of 248.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2061.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,423 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Carson Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault169
063% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery33
052% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary222
082% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,423
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft244
077% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Carson Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Carson
248.1
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Carson
2061.0
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Carson Safety

Is Carson safe?
Not especially. Carson earns a C- with a crime rate of 230.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Carson?
230.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 248.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2061.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Carson safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Carson's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,423 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Carson?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Carson generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Carson police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Carson?
No. Crime in Carson has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Carson compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Carson ranks behind about 77% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Carson 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 Carson?
Bad. A C- grade and 230.9 per-thousand rate put Carson below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 248 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Carson?
248.1 per 100,000, which is 32% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (169), robbery (33), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in California

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

D
See crime rates in Compton90,500 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Mission Viejo90,484 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Santa Monica90,082 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in South Gate90,071 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Folsom91,983 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Westminster88,966 pop · Grade D+
View all California city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Carson

Get weekly safety updates for Carson

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities