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D

Is Mission Viejo, California Safe?

Population 90,484 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Mission Viejo runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 81% of US cities, with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,821 per 100K.

Mission Viejo Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMission ViejoCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate281.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2300.32099.21,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1821.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate538.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

258.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

281/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2300/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Mission Viejo

Violent crime in Mission Viejo is below the national average. The rate of 281.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2300.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,821 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Mission Viejo Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery65
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary316
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,821
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft538
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Mission Viejo Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Mission Viejo
281.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Mission Viejo
2300.3
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Mission Viejo Safety

Is Mission Viejo safe?
Not especially. Mission Viejo earns a D with a crime rate of 258.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Mission Viejo?
258.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 281.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2300.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Mission Viejo safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Mission Viejo's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,821 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Mission Viejo?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Mission Viejo generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Mission Viejo police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Mission Viejo?
No. Crime in Mission Viejo has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Mission Viejo compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Mission Viejo ranks behind about 77% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo?
Bad. A D grade and 258.2 per-thousand rate put Mission Viejo below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 281 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Mission Viejo?
281.4 per 100,000, which is 23% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (65), and murder (2.0) 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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