F
47%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
76%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
42%
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 Maria/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime3,751n/a (estimate)3,4252,8432,324
Murder10n/a9.15.76.3
Rape74n/a67.637.440.0
Robbery209n/a190.8123.566.1
Assault419n/a382.6332.8268.2
Violent crime712n/a (estimate)650500370
Burglary393n/a358.8371.9269.8
Theft1,504n/a1,373.31,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft1,142n/a1,042.8471.9282.7
Property crime3,039n/a (estimate)2,7752,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Santa Maria, CA

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Santa Maria is 47.4% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Santa Maria, there were 712 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 650 per 100,000 individuals, 75.8% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 3039 property crimes, amounting to 2775 per 100,000 residents, 42% higher than the U.S. average.

Recently, vehicle thefts have seen an upward trend across the United States, and Santa Maria ranks among the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. Last year, there were 1142 vehicle thefts, amounting to 1043 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Santa Maria 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 96.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Santa Maria?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Santa Maria. Based on the results of the surveys (38 responses), 34% of people felt that there was very little crime in Santa Maria and felt safe walking alone at night. While 66% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Santa Maria a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Santa Maria is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Santa Maria has an overall crime rate that is 47% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 10.28 daily occurrences, comprising 1.95 violent crimes and 8.33 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Santa Maria as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Santa Maria Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Santa Maria has increased by 13.5%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Santa Maria, 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 decreased by 14.6%, while property crime has increased by 22.9%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Santa Maria is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Santa Maria

In Santa Maria, the poverty rate currently stands at 12.7%, which contrasts with the national average of 15.1%. It's essential to recognize that the economic status of a city's inhabitants could be a pivotal factor influencing crime stats. Communities grappling with high poverty rates and income inequality are often susceptible to elevated crime levels, as some individuals may turn to unlawful activities to fulfill their essential needs. While lower poverty rates could lead to a reduction in Santa Maria crime rates.

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Santa Maria currently has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

The quality of housing and neighborhood conditions can influence crime rates. Neglected or run-down neighborhoods with poorly maintained properties may be more susceptible to criminal activities. In areas with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves residing in cramped or inadequate housing settings, amplifying stress levels and potentially fostering domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. It's worth noting that the median home price in Santa Maria stands at $359,700, a contrast to the national average of $184,700.

Santa Maria crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Santa Maria crime rates are 47% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Santa Maria are 76% higher than the national average
      • In Santa Maria you have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Santa Maria is safer than 11% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Santa Maria has increased by 12%

      Santa Maria, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Santa Maria

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        See all Santa Maria poll results

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

        The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Santa Maria, per 100,000 residents. In Santa Maria, the total number of daily crimes is 1.20 times more than the California average and 1.47 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Santa Maria are 1.30 times more than the California average and 1.76 times more than the national average. For property crime, Santa Maria has a daily crime rate that is 1.18 times more than the California average and 1.42 times more than the daily national average.

        How Safe is Santa Maria (higher is better)

        How safe is Santa Maria, California compared to other cities in California and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Santa Maria is safer than 16% of the cities in California and 11% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in California and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Santa Maria. Overall, Santa Maria is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Santa Maria

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Santa Maria is 1 in 154
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Santa Maria is 1 in 37
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Maria is 1 in 30
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Santa Maria? In Santa Maria, you have a 1 in 154 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 37. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Maria, CA is 1 in 30.

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

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Santa Maria, CA is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Santa Maria has decreased by 16%, while the property crime rate in Santa Maria has increased by 21% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Santa Maria has increased by 12% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Santa Maria police department

        Item Santa Maria California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)13651,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.33.63.3
        There are a total of 136 Santa Maria police officers. This results in 1.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 62.8% less than the California average and 58.7% 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
        Woodlands, CA2,33170329399
        Callender, CA1,638105494600
        Los Alamos, CA1,2751969161,112
        Guadalupe, CA7,654561,1701,226
        Blacklake, CA7972861,3421,628
        Arroyo Grande, CA17,9244981,4441,941
        Grover Beach, CA13,4812592,2472,506
        Santa Maria, CA105,5286502,7753,425

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Davie, FL105,5942211,3341,555
        Columbia, MD105,4123351,3751,709
        League City, TX105,4101081,2851,393
        West Covina, CA105,8084052,3082,712
        Tyler, TX105,8595302,3272,857
        Santa Maria, CA105,5286502,7753,425
        Source: The Santa Maria, 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.