CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D+

Is Santa Cruz, California Safe?

Population 61,797 · Safer than 25% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

A D+ grade for Santa Cruz means there's room for concern. The 241.6 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 1,659 per 100K.

Santa Cruz Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSanta CruzCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate356.7333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2059.82099.21,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate270.0--268.2
Theft Rate1659.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate478.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

241.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

357/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2060/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Santa Cruz

Violent crime in Santa Cruz is close to the national average. The rate of 356.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2059.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,659 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Santa Cruz Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault270
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary331
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,659
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft478
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Santa Cruz Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Cruz
356.7
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Cruz
2059.8
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Cruz Safety

Is Santa Cruz safe?
Not especially. Santa Cruz earns a D+ with a crime rate of 241.6 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 Cruz?
241.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 356.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2059.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Santa Cruz safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Santa Cruz's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,659 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Santa Cruz?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Santa Cruz generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Santa Cruz police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Santa Cruz?
Crime rates have held steady in Santa Cruz, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D+ grade.
How does Santa Cruz compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Santa Cruz ranks behind about 74% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Santa Cruz to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Santa Cruz?
Bad. A D+ grade and 241.6 per-thousand rate put Santa Cruz below 75% of US cities. Violent crime at 357 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Santa Cruz?
356.7 per 100,000, which is 2% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (270), robbery (46), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in California

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

D
See crime rates in San Clemente62,226 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Hanford62,229 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Woodland62,513 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in La Habra60,908 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Beaumont60,835 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Gilroy60,764 pop · Grade D-
View all California city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Santa Cruz

Get weekly safety updates for Santa Cruz

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities