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D

Is Porterville, California Safe?

Population 63,088 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Porterville runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 82% of US cities, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,690 per 100K.

Porterville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortervilleCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate348.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2274.32099.21,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate246.0--268.2
Theft Rate1690.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate260.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

262.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

348/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2274/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Porterville

Violent crime in Porterville is close to the national average. The rate of 348.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2274.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,690 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Porterville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault246
092% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary284
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,690
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft260
082% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Porterville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Porterville
348.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Porterville
2274.3
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Porterville Safety

Is Porterville safe?
Not especially. Porterville earns a D with a crime rate of 262.3 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 Porterville?
262.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 348.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2274.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Porterville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Porterville's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,690 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Porterville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Porterville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Porterville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Porterville?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Porterville's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Porterville compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Porterville ranks behind about 79% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Porterville to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Porterville?
Bad. A D grade and 262.3 per-thousand rate put Porterville below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 348 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Porterville?
348.4 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (246), robbery (68), and murder (3.0) 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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