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D+

Is Pacifica, California Safe?

Population 36,890 · Safer than 24% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 36,890, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Pacifica earns a D+ with violent crime below the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,871 per 100K.

Pacifica Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPacificaCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate252.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2186.22099.21,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate181.0--268.2
Theft Rate1871.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate527.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

243.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

252/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2186/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Pacifica

Violent crime in Pacifica is below the national average. The rate of 252.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2186.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,871 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Pacifica Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault181
067% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery53
084% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary390
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,871
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft527
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Pacifica Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pacifica
252.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pacifica
2186.2
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Pacifica Safety

Is Pacifica safe?
Not especially. Pacifica earns a D+ with a crime rate of 243.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Pacifica?
243.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 252.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2186.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Pacifica safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Pacifica's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,871 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Pacifica?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Pacifica generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Pacifica police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Pacifica?
No. Crime in Pacifica has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Pacifica compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Pacifica ranks behind about 68% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Pacifica 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 Pacifica?
Bad. A D+ grade and 243.9 per-thousand rate put Pacifica below 76% of US cities. Violent crime at 252 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Pacifica?
252.4 per 100,000, which is 31% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (181), robbery (53), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all California city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Pacifica

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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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