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C-

Is Palm Springs, California Safe?

Population 45,315 · Safer than 27% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Palm Springs is a smaller community of 45,315 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 234.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,228 per 100K.

Palm Springs Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPalm SpringsCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate358.0333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1983.52099.21,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate259.0--268.2
Theft Rate1228.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate475.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

234.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

358/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1984/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Palm Springs

Violent crime in Palm Springs is close to the national average. The rate of 358.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1983.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,228 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Palm Springs Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault259
097% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery39
062% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary278
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,228
088% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft475
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Palm Springs Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Palm Springs
358.0
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Palm Springs
1983.5
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Springs Safety

Is Palm Springs safe?
Not especially. Palm Springs earns a C- with a crime rate of 234.1 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 Palm Springs?
234.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 358.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1983.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Palm Springs safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Palm Springs's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,228 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Palm Springs?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Palm Springs generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Palm Springs police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Palm Springs?
No. Crime in Palm Springs has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Palm Springs compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Palm Springs ranks behind about 67% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs?
Bad. A C- grade and 234.1 per-thousand rate put Palm Springs below 73% of US cities. Violent crime at 358 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Palm Springs?
358.0 per 100,000, which is 2% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (259), robbery (39), 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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