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C+

Is El Centro, California Safe?

Population 44,382 · Safer than 41% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

El Centro is a smaller community of 44,382 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 201.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,414 per 100K.

El Centro Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricEl CentroCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate277.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1733.62099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate196.0--268.2
Theft Rate1414.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate211.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

201.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

277/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1734/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for El Centro

Violent crime in El Centro is below the national average. The rate of 277.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1733.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,414 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

El Centro Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault196
073% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery41
065% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary225
083% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,414
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft211
066% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How El Centro Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Centro
277.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Centro
1733.6
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About El Centro Safety

Is El Centro safe?
It depends on where in El Centro 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 El Centro?
201.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 277.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1733.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is El Centro safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. El Centro 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 El Centro?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in El Centro generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the El Centro police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in El Centro?
Crime rates have held steady in El Centro, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C+ grade.
How does El Centro compare to other cities in California?
Middle of the pack for California. El Centro isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 50th percentile among California cities.
How safe is El Centro to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in El Centro?
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 El Centro?
277.4 per 100,000, which is 24% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (196), 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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