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C+

Is El Cerrito, California Safe?

Population 26,121 · Safer than 43% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 26,121, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. El Cerrito earns a C+ with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,075 per 100K.

El Cerrito Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricEl CerritoCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate287.1333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1677.02099.21,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate187.0--268.2
Theft Rate1075.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate415.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

196.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

287/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1677/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for El Cerrito

Violent crime in El Cerrito is below the national average. The rate of 287.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1677.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,075 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

El Cerrito Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault187
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery53
084% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary180
067% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,075
077% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft415
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How El Cerrito Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Cerrito
287.1
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Cerrito
1677.0
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About El Cerrito Safety

Is El Cerrito safe?
It depends on where in El Cerrito 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 Cerrito?
196.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 287.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1677.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is El Cerrito safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. El Cerrito 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 Cerrito?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in El Cerrito generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the El Cerrito police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in El Cerrito?
Crime rates have held steady in El Cerrito, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C+ grade.
How does El Cerrito compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. El Cerrito ranks behind about 61% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is El Cerrito 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 Cerrito?
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 43th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in El Cerrito?
287.1 per 100,000, which is 21% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (187), robbery (53), and murder (5.0) 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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