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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Barstow, CA has a Safety Score of 11/100 — higher crime than 89% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,751.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,659 of 2,971 US cities and #236 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Barstow, California Safe?
Barstow, a Mojave Desert city, is a historic railroad town and home to Casa del Desierto, a Harvey House hotel. Situated at the junction of I-15 and I-40, it serves as a crucial transportation hub.
Barstow has a safety score of 11/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,751.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Barstow ranks #236 out of 264 cities in California and #2659 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 11th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 89% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Barstow is robbery, at 266.0 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Barstow's total crime rate increased by 7.7%, with violent crime rising 29.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Barstow Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 276 | 1,112.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 22 | 88.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 66 | 266.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 186 | 749.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 655 | 2,639.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 163 | 656.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 344 | 1,386.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 148 | 596.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Barstow vs California Average
How does Barstow's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Barstow | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,112.1 | 518.0 | +114.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,639.3 | 2,161.3 | +22.1% |
| Murder Rate | 4.0 | 4.4 | -8.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,751.5 | 2,679.3 | +40.0% |
Barstow Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Barstow, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,817 | 3,751.5 | 1,112.1 | 2,639.3 |
| 2023 | 25,138 | 3,484.8 | 859.3 | 2,625.5 |
| 2022 | 25,465 | 3,400.8 | 1,087.8 | 2,313.0 |
| 2020 | 24,041 | 5,004.0 | 1,143.9 | 3,860.1 |
| 2019 | 24,121 | 5,223.7 | 1,135.9 | 4,087.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barstow, California safe?
Barstow has a safety score of 11/100, meaning it has less crime than about 11% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,751.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Barstow is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Barstow, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Barstow has a violent crime rate of 1,112.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,639.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Barstow compare to the national average?
Barstow's total crime rate of 3,751.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,817 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Barstow?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Barstow include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Barstow safe to visit?
Like any city, Barstow has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 11/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.