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C+

Is Pacific Grove, California Safe?

Population 14,659 · Safer than 45% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Pacific Grove is a smaller community of 14,659 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 191.7 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,357 per 100K.

Pacific Grove Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPacific GroveCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate290.9333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1625.82099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate167.0--268.2
Theft Rate1357.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate405.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

191.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

291/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1626/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Pacific Grove

Violent crime in Pacific Grove is below the national average. The rate of 290.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1625.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,357 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Pacific Grove Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault167
062% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery62
098% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary237
088% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,357
097% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft405
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Pacific Grove Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pacific Grove
290.9
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pacific Grove
1625.8
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Pacific Grove Safety

Is Pacific Grove safe?
It depends on where in Pacific Grove you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Pacific Grove?
191.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 290.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1625.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Pacific Grove safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Pacific Grove 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 Pacific Grove?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Pacific Grove generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Pacific Grove police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Pacific Grove?
No. Crime in Pacific Grove has been trending down, which is good news for the C+-rated city.
How does Pacific Grove compare to other cities in California?
Middle of the pack for California. Pacific Grove isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 42th percentile among California cities.
How safe is Pacific Grove 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 Pacific Grove?
Mixed. Violent crime is below 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 45th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Pacific Grove?
290.9 per 100,000, which is 20% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (167), robbery (62), 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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