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F

Is Oakland, California Safe?

Population 440,838 · Safer than 9% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Oakland has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The F safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 298.7 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,882 per 100K.

Oakland Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricOaklandCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate465.3333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2522.02099.21,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate304.0--268.2
Theft Rate1882.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate592.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyF

298.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD-

465/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2522/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Oakland

Violent crime in Oakland is above the national average. The rate of 465.3 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2522.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,882 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 304 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Oakland Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault304
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery115
01.8x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary278
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,882
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft592
01.9x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Oakland Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oakland
465.3
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oakland
2522.0
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Oakland Safety

Is Oakland safe?
Not especially. Oakland earns a F with a crime rate of 298.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Oakland?
298.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 465.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2522.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Oakland safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Oakland's F grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,882 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Oakland?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Oakland generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Oakland police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Oakland?
No. Crime in Oakland has been trending down, which is good news for the F-rated city.
How does Oakland compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Oakland ranks behind about 90% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Oakland to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Oakland?
Bad. A F grade and 298.7 per-thousand rate put Oakland below 91% of US cities. Violent crime at 465 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Oakland?
465.3 per 100,000, which is 28% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (304), robbery (115), 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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