CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D

Is Santa Monica, California Safe?

Population 90,082 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate above the national average, Santa Monica faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 81% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,796 per 100K.

Santa Monica Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSanta MonicaCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate426.7333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2152.72099.21,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate294.0--268.2
Theft Rate1796.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate394.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

257.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

427/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2153/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Santa Monica

Violent crime in Santa Monica is above the national average. The rate of 426.7 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2152.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,796 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Santa Monica Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault294
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery87
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary237
088% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,796
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft394
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Santa Monica Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Monica
426.7
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Santa Monica
2152.7
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Monica Safety

Is Santa Monica safe?
Not especially. Santa Monica earns a D with a crime rate of 257.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Santa Monica?
257.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 426.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2152.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Santa Monica safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Santa Monica's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,796 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Santa Monica?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Santa Monica generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Santa Monica police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Santa Monica?
Crime rates have held steady in Santa Monica, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Santa Monica compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Santa Monica ranks behind about 87% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Santa Monica to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Santa Monica?
Bad. A D grade and 257.9 per-thousand rate put Santa Monica below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 427 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Santa Monica?
426.7 per 100,000, which is 17% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (294), robbery (87), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in California

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

D-
See crime rates in South Gate90,071 pop · Grade D-
D
See crime rates in Mission Viejo90,484 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Compton90,500 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Carson90,808 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Westminster88,966 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Folsom91,983 pop · Grade C-
View all California city safety grades

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

Get weekly safety updates for Santa Monica

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