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C-

Is Lakewood, California Safe?

Population 78,010 · Safer than 28% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lakewood, California sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 233 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,498 per 100K.

Lakewood Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLakewoodCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate323.5333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2006.92099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate252.0--268.2
Theft Rate1498.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate171.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

233 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

324/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2007/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lakewood

Violent crime in Lakewood is close to the national average. The rate of 323.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2006.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,498 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lakewood Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault252
094% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery44
070% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary303
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,498
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft171
054% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lakewood Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lakewood
323.5
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lakewood
2006.9
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lakewood Safety

Is Lakewood safe?
Not especially. Lakewood earns a C- with a crime rate of 233 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 Lakewood?
233 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 323.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2006.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lakewood safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Lakewood's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,498 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lakewood?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lakewood generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lakewood police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lakewood?
No. Crime in Lakewood has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Lakewood compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Lakewood ranks behind about 62% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Lakewood to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Lakewood?
Bad. A C- grade and 233 per-thousand rate put Lakewood below 72% of US cities. Violent crime at 324 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Lakewood?
323.5 per 100,000, which is 11% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (252), robbery (44), and murder (4.0) 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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