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D+

Is Santa Clara, California Safe?

Population 133,446 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

A D+ grade for Santa Clara means there's room for concern. The 251.8 per-thousand crime rate and violent crime close to the national average tell the story. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,380 per 100K.

Santa Clara Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSanta ClaraCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate335.3333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2182.52099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1380.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate492.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

251.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

335/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2183/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Santa Clara

Violent crime in Santa Clara is close to the national average. The rate of 335.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2182.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,380 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Santa Clara Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery49
077% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary325
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,380
098% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft492
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Santa Clara Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Clara
335.3
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Clara
2182.5
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Clara Safety

Is Santa Clara safe?
Not especially. Santa Clara earns a D+ with a crime rate of 251.8 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 Santa Clara?
251.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 335.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2182.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Santa Clara safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Santa Clara's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,380 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Santa Clara?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Santa Clara generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Santa Clara police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Santa Clara?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Santa Clara's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D+ grade overall.
How does Santa Clara compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Santa Clara ranks behind about 74% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara?
Bad. A D+ grade and 251.8 per-thousand rate put Santa Clara below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 335 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Santa Clara?
335.3 per 100,000, which is 8% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (49), and murder (4.0) 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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