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F

Is San Francisco, California Safe?

Population 826,079 · Safer than 7% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in San Francisco runs high. The city's F grade puts it below 93% of US cities, with violent crime above the national average. Theft is the most common offense at 2,172 per 100K, which is well above the national average.

San Francisco Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSan FranciscoCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate476.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2669.82099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate275.0--268.2
Theft Rate2172.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate678.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyF

314.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD-

476/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeF

2670/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for San Francisco

Violent crime in San Francisco is above the national average. The rate of 476.4 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is well above the national average at 2669.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,172 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

San Francisco Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault275
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery60
095% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary434
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,172
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft678
02.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How San Francisco Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

San Francisco
476.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

San Francisco
2669.8
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About San Francisco Safety

Is San Francisco safe?
Not especially. San Francisco earns a F with a crime rate of 314.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in San Francisco?
314.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 476.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2669.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is San Francisco safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. San Francisco's F grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,172 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in San Francisco?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in San Francisco generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the San Francisco police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in San Francisco?
No. Crime in San Francisco has been trending down, which is good news for the F-rated city.
How does San Francisco compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. San Francisco ranks behind about 98% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.5x the national rate.
How safe is San Francisco to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in San Francisco?
Bad. A F grade and 314.6 per-thousand rate put San Francisco below 93% of US cities. Violent crime at 476 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in San Francisco?
476.4 per 100,000, which is 31% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (275), robbery (60), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in California

Similar-sized communities in California. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
See crime rates in San Jose989,814 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Fresno555,549 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Sacramento536,449 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Long Beach450,469 pop · Grade D+
F
See crime rates in Oakland440,838 pop · Grade F
D
See crime rates in Bakersfield422,165 pop · Grade D
View all California city safety grades

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

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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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