D
68%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
16%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
84%
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 peopleSanta Clara/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime4,960n/a (estimate)3,9092,8432,324
Murder1n/a0.85.76.3
Rape35n/a27.637.440.0
Robbery86n/a67.8123.566.1
Assault274n/a216.0332.8268.2
Violent crime396n/a (estimate)312500370
Burglary646n/a509.2371.9269.8
Theft3,394n/a2,675.01,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft524n/a413.0471.9282.7
Property crime4,564n/a (estimate)3,5972,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Santa Clara, 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 Santa Clara is 68.2% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 396 violent crimes reported in Santa Clara, equivalent to 312 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 15.6%. Additionally, Santa Clara recorded 4564 property crimes, amounting to 3597 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 84.1%.

Every year, one in 28 people fall victim to a property crime in Santa Clara - which is high compared to the national average. With a property crime rate of 3597 per 100,000 people, Santa Clara has one of the highest property crime rates in the country. In fact, the city ranks among the worst 10% of all cities that reported crime last year.

Recently, vehicle thefts have seen an upward trend across the United States, and Santa Clara ranks among the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. Last year, there were 524 vehicle thefts, amounting to 413 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Santa Clara within the worst 10% of all cities, indicating that 90% of cities fare better in terms of vehicle theft rates. The likelihood of your vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 243.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Santa Clara?

AreaVibes surveyed 39 local residents in Santa Clara to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 72% of people answered that there was very little crime in Santa Clara and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 28% 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 Santa Clara a Safe Place to Live?

Is Santa Clara a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Santa Clara has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 68%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 13.59 daily incidents, encompassing 1.08 violent crimes and 12.5 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Santa Clara as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Santa Clara Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Santa Clara. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Santa Clara has increased by 41.4%. Specifically, violent crime has increased by 92.2%, while property crime has increased by 38.3%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Santa Clara.

Potential Causes for Crime in Santa Clara

Santa Clara has a poverty rate that stands at 7.1, in contrast to the national average of 15.1. Historically, a direct correlation has been observed between poverty rates and crime stats. Higher poverty rates have led to higher crime rates, while lower poverty rates have led to a reduction in Santa Clara crime rates. Income disparities and heightened poverty levels can serve as catalysts for elevated or reduced criminal activity, as individuals may or may not turn to illicit means to fulfill their basic needs. This could be one of many factors that may influence crime.

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. Santa Clara, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

Law enforcement and community policing efforts can play a pivotal role in shaping crime rates. Establishing a robust and cooperative partnership between the police and the community can act as a deterrent to criminal behavior and enhance overall safety. In Santa Clara, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents differs from the national average, with 1.68 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents compared to 3.25 nationally. Effective law enforcement often hinges on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community. It's not solely about the quantity of officers but also the quality of their engagement with the community.

Santa Clara crime map



The Santa Clara crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara, CA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Santa Clara crime rates are 68% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Santa Clara are 16% lower than the national average
      • In Santa Clara you have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Santa Clara is safer than 21% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Santa Clara has increased by 47%

      Santa Clara, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Santa Clara

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        See all Santa Clara poll results

        Daily Crime In Santa Clara (per 100,000 people)

        The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Santa Clara, per 100,000 residents. In Santa Clara, the total number of daily crimes is 1.38 times more than the California average and 1.68 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Santa Clara are 1.60 times less than the California average and 1.18 times less than the national average. For property crime, Santa Clara has a daily crime rate that is 1.54 times more than the California average and 1.84 times more than the daily national average.

        How Safe is Santa Clara (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Santa Clara, California compared to other areas of California, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Santa Clara safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Santa Clara is safer than 34% of California cities, and 21% 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 Santa Clara. At this time, Santa Clara sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Santa Clara

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Santa Clara is 1 in 321
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Santa Clara is 1 in 28
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Clara is 1 in 26
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Santa Clara, California? If you reside in Santa Clara, then there is a 1 in 321 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 28. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 26 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Santa Clara.

        Year Over Year Crime In Santa Clara (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Santa Clara is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Santa Clara has increased by 100%, while the property crime rate in Santa Clara has increased by 44% year over year. The number of total crimes in Santa Clara has increased by 47% year over year.

        Santa Clara police department

        Item Santa Clara California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)20151,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.73.63.3
        There are a total of 201 Santa Clara police officers. This results in 1.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 53.4% less than the California average and 48.2% 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
        Ladera, CA1,38570329399
        Lexington Hills, CA2,65678368446
        Loyola, CA3,40495446542
        West Menlo Park, CA3,72095446542
        Cambrian Park, CA3,01595446542
        Portola Valley, CA4,568130609738
        Saratoga, CA31,08441816856
        Santa Clara, CA126,7233123,5973,909

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Lafayette, LA126,6744794,3884,866
        Topeka, KS125,8199643,7084,671
        Pearland, TX125,817931,7091,802
        Thousand Oaks, CA127,648581,1061,164
        Simi Valley, CA125,76895851946
        Santa Clara, CA126,7233123,5973,909
        Source: The Santa Clara, 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.