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C

Is Vista, California Safe?

Population 98,274 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Vista earns a C safety grade with 215.1 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs below the national average, putting the city behind 65% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,568 per 100K.

Vista Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricVistaCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate306.2333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1845.02099.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate201.0--268.2
Theft Rate1568.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate463.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

215.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

306/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1845/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Vista

Violent crime in Vista is below the national average. The rate of 306.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1845.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,568 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Vista Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault201
075% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery61
096% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary243
090% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,568
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft463
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Vista Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Vista
306.2
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Vista
1845.0
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Vista Safety

Is Vista safe?
Not especially. Vista earns a C with a crime rate of 215.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Vista?
215.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 306.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1845.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Vista safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Vista has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Vista?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Vista generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Vista police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Vista?
No. Crime in Vista has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Vista compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Vista ranks behind about 66% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Vista 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 Vista?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Vista?
306.2 per 100,000, which is 16% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (201), robbery (61), and murder (6.0) 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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