D+
14%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
1%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
16%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleMonterey/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime784n/a (estimate)2,6392,8432,324
Murder1n/a3.45.76.3
Rape12n/a40.437.440.0
Robbery19n/a64.0123.566.1
Assault79n/a265.9332.8268.2
Violent crime111n/a (estimate)374500370
Burglary84n/a282.7371.9269.8
Theft537n/a1,807.51,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft52n/a175.0471.9282.7
Property crime673n/a (estimate)2,2652,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Monterey, CA

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Monterey is 13.5% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 111 violent crimes reported in Monterey, equivalent to 374 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 1%. Additionally, Monterey recorded 673 property crimes, amounting to 2265 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 15.9%.

When assessing the total crime rate in Monterey per 100,000 people, it stands in the median range among all cities with reported crime data. Our analysis of total incidents, encompassing both violent and property crimes within Monterey, underscores the close alignment of reported crime rates with the national average as reported by other areas.

Monterey exhibits a violent crime rate that closely echoes the national average reported by all cities, with 374 incidents per 100,000 people, in line with the nationwide figure of 370. This uniformity underscores Monterey as a community where safety standards align seamlessly with the broader national context, delivering residents a steadfast and dependable sense of security.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Monterey?

AreaVibes surveyed 45 local residents in Monterey to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 56% of people answered that there was very little crime in Monterey and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 44% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Monterey a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Monterey a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Monterey crime rate is 14% higher than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 2.15 crimes per day - 0.3 violent crimes and 1.84 property crimes.

Has Crime in Monterey Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Monterey has decreased by 21.5%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Monterey, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has increased by 15.6%, while property crime has decreased by 25.5%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Monterey is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Monterey

Limited employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-wage jobs can result in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Regions where individuals grapple with joblessness or meager wages may exhibit greater vulnerability to an uptick in crime due to financial instability. While areas that have strong employment rates, often will see a reduction in overall crime. Monterey, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 2.1%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

In Monterey, 92.5% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Monterey has a median home price of $813,600, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Monterey crime map



The Monterey crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Monterey as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Monterey crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Monterey crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Monterey, CA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Monterey crime rates are 14% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Monterey are 1% higher than the national average
      • In Monterey you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Monterey is safer than 25% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Monterey has decreased by 25%

      Monterey, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Monterey

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        See all Monterey poll results

        Daily Crime In Monterey (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Monterey, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Monterey are 1.08 times less than the California average and 1.14 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Monterey are 1.34 times less than than California and 1.01 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Monterey are 1.03 times less than than California and 1.16 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Monterey (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Monterey, California compared to other areas of California, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Monterey safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Monterey is safer than 42% of California cities, and 25% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in California, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Monterey. At this time, Monterey sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Monterey

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Monterey is 1 in 268
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Monterey is 1 in 45
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Monterey is 1 in 38
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Monterey? In Monterey, you have a 1 in 268 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 45. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Monterey, CA is 1 in 38.

        Year Over Year Crime In Monterey (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Monterey is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Monterey has increased by 10% and the rate of property crime in Monterey has decreased by 29%. The total crime rate in Monterey has decreased by 25% year to year.

        Monterey police department

        Item Monterey California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)6351,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.23.63.3
        There are a total of 63 Monterey police officers. This results in 2.2 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 38.8% less than the California average and 32% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in California

        State Total offenders California /100K National /100K
        California79,891232266
        There are a total of 79,891 sex offenders in California. This yields a total of 232 sex offenders in California per 100,000 residents which is 13% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Del Monte Forest, CA3,783130609738
        Carmel Valley Village, CA4,175130609738
        Elkhorn, CA998149698847
        Pacific Grove, CA15,47187778866
        Seaside, CA34,0634211,2371,657
        Marina, CA21,9663271,8592,185
        Salinas, CA156,1775211,6772,198
        Monterey, CA28,5753742,2652,639

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Granite City, IL28,5636532,5563,208
        Schererville, IN28,559160807966
        Burton, MI28,5988242,5233,347
        Northampton, MA28,5523911,2451,636
        Lake in the Hills, IL28,61755290345
        Monterey, CA28,5753742,2652,639
        Source: The Monterey, CA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.