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C

Is Chowchilla, California Safe?

Population 18,730 · Safer than 34% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Chowchilla is a smaller community of 18,730 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 218.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,264 per 100K.

Chowchilla Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricChowchillaCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate294.6333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1886.22099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate205.0--268.2
Theft Rate1264.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate442.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

218.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

295/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1886/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Chowchilla

Violent crime in Chowchilla is below the national average. The rate of 294.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1886.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,264 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Chowchilla Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault205
076% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery41
065% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary328
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,264
090% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft442
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Chowchilla Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chowchilla
294.6
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chowchilla
1886.2
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Chowchilla Safety

Is Chowchilla safe?
Not especially. Chowchilla earns a C with a crime rate of 218.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Chowchilla?
218.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 294.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1886.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Chowchilla safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Chowchilla's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,264 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Chowchilla?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Chowchilla generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Chowchilla police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Chowchilla?
No. Crime in Chowchilla has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Chowchilla compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Chowchilla ranks behind about 63% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla?
Bad. A C grade and 218.1 per-thousand rate put Chowchilla below 66% of US cities. Violent crime at 295 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Chowchilla?
294.6 per 100,000, which is 19% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (205), robbery (41), 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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