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C

Is Morro Bay, California Safe?

Population 10,613 · Safer than 37% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 10,613, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Morro Bay earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,112 per 100K.

Morro Bay Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMorro BayCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate348.3333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1747.92099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate219.0--268.2
Theft Rate1112.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate200.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

209.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

348/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1748/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Morro Bay

Violent crime in Morro Bay is close to the national average. The rate of 348.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1747.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,112 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Morro Bay Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault219
082% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery44
070% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary228
085% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,112
079% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft200
063% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Morro Bay Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morro Bay
348.3
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morro Bay
1747.9
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Morro Bay Safety

Is Morro Bay safe?
Not especially. Morro Bay earns a C with a crime rate of 209.6 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 Morro Bay?
209.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 348.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1747.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Morro Bay safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Morro Bay generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Morro Bay police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Morro Bay?
No. Crime in Morro Bay has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Morro Bay compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Morro Bay ranks behind about 64% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay?
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 37th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Morro Bay?
348.3 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (219), 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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