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C-

Is San Juan Capistrano, California Safe?

Population 35,119 · Safer than 28% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 35,119, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. San Juan Capistrano earns a C- with violent crime below the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,212 per 100K.

San Juan Capistrano Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSan Juan CapistranoCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate307.8333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2004.42099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate184.0--268.2
Theft Rate1212.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate380.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

231.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

308/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2004/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for San Juan Capistrano

Violent crime in San Juan Capistrano is below the national average. The rate of 307.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2004.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,212 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

San Juan Capistrano Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault184
069% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery53
084% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary351
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,212
086% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft380
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How San Juan Capistrano Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

San Juan Capistrano
307.8
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

San Juan Capistrano
2004.4
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About San Juan Capistrano Safety

Is San Juan Capistrano safe?
Not especially. San Juan Capistrano earns a C- with a crime rate of 231.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in San Juan Capistrano?
231.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 307.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2004.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is San Juan Capistrano safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. San Juan Capistrano's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,212 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in San Juan Capistrano?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in San Juan Capistrano generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the San Juan Capistrano police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in San Juan Capistrano?
No. Crime in San Juan Capistrano has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does San Juan Capistrano compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. San Juan Capistrano ranks behind about 64% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is San Juan Capistrano 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 San Juan Capistrano?
Bad. A C- grade and 231.2 per-thousand rate put San Juan Capistrano below 72% of US cities. Violent crime at 308 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in San Juan Capistrano?
307.8 per 100,000, which is 15% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (184), robbery (53), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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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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