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D-

Is Whittier, California Safe?

Population 85,815 · Safer than 14% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Whittier has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate below the national average and an overall rate of 275.7 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,631 per 100K.

Whittier Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWhittierCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate255.0333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2502.42099.21,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate192.0--268.2
Theft Rate1631.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate294.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

275.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

255/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2502/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Whittier

Violent crime in Whittier is below the national average. The rate of 255.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2502.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,631 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Whittier Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault192
072% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery30
047% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary483
01.8x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,631
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft294
092% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Whittier Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Whittier
255.0
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Whittier
2502.4
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Whittier Safety

Is Whittier safe?
Not especially. Whittier earns a D- with a crime rate of 275.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Whittier?
275.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 255.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2502.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Whittier safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Whittier's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,631 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Whittier?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Whittier generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Whittier police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Whittier?
No. Crime in Whittier has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Whittier compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Whittier ranks behind about 93% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Whittier 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 Whittier?
Bad. A D- grade and 275.7 per-thousand rate put Whittier below 86% of US cities. Violent crime at 255 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Whittier?
255.0 per 100,000, which is 30% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (192), robbery (30), and murder (2.0) 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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