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D

Is Oceanside, California Safe?

Population 170,483 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Oceanside 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 1,743 per 100K.

Oceanside Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricOceansideCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate300.2333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2286.22099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate225.0--268.2
Theft Rate1743.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate411.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

258.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

300/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2286/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Oceanside

Violent crime in Oceanside is below the national average. The rate of 300.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2286.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,743 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Oceanside Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault225
084% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary266
099% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,743
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft411
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Oceanside Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oceanside
300.2
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Oceanside
2286.2
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Oceanside Safety

Is Oceanside safe?
Not especially. Oceanside earns a D with a crime rate of 258.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Oceanside?
258.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 300.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2286.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Oceanside safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Oceanside's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,743 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Oceanside?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Oceanside generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Oceanside police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Oceanside?
No. Crime in Oceanside has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Oceanside compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Oceanside ranks behind about 89% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Oceanside 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 Oceanside?
Bad. A D grade and 258.6 per-thousand rate put Oceanside below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 300 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Oceanside?
300.2 per 100,000, which is 17% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (225), robbery (48), and murder (6.0) 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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