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C

Is Imperial Beach, California Safe?

Population 25,206 · Safer than 38% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 25,206, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Imperial Beach earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,279 per 100K.

Imperial Beach Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricImperial BeachCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate390.6333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1675.72099.21,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate229.0--268.2
Theft Rate1279.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate243.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

206.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

391/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1676/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Imperial Beach

Violent crime in Imperial Beach is close to the national average. The rate of 390.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1675.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,279 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Imperial Beach Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault229
085% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery90
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary260
096% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,279
091% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft243
076% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Imperial Beach Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Imperial Beach
390.6
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Imperial Beach
1675.7
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Imperial Beach Safety

Is Imperial Beach safe?
Not especially. Imperial Beach earns a C with a crime rate of 206.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Imperial Beach?
206.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 390.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1675.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Imperial Beach safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Imperial Beach 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 Imperial Beach?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Imperial Beach generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Imperial Beach police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Imperial Beach?
Crime rates have held steady in Imperial Beach, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Imperial Beach compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Imperial Beach ranks behind about 67% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Imperial Beach to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Imperial Beach?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 38th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Imperial Beach?
390.6 per 100,000, which is 7% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (229), robbery (90), and murder (8.0) 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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