Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, California City, CA has a Safety Score of 36/100 — higher crime than 64% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,176.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,910 of 2,971 US cities and #143 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is California City, California Safe?
California City, an ambitious 1950s planned community in the Mojave Desert, boasts the third-largest land area of any California city. Its vast, grid-like street network often lies empty, a testament to its unfulfilled growth.
California City has a safety score of 36/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,176.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
California City ranks #143 out of 264 cities in California and #1910 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 36th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 64% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in California City is aggravated assault, at 514.2 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, California City's total crime rate decreased by 5.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
California City Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 79 | 588.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 7.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 3 | 22.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 44.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 69 | 514.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 213 | 1,587.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 51 | 380.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 113 | 842.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 49 | 365.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
California City vs California Average
How does California City's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | California City | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 588.8 | 518.0 | +13.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,587.4 | 2,161.3 | -26.6% |
| Murder Rate | 7.5 | 4.4 | +69.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,176.2 | 2,679.3 | -18.8% |
California City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for California City, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,418 | 2,176.2 | 588.8 | 1,587.4 |
| 2023 | 15,165 | 2,301.4 | 586.9 | 1,714.5 |
| 2022 | 15,138 | 1,823.2 | 502.1 | 1,321.2 |
| 2020 | 14,286 | 2,254.0 | 637.0 | 1,617.0 |
| 2019 | 14,319 | 2,542.1 | 579.7 | 1,962.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California City, California safe?
California City has a safety score of 36/100, meaning it has less crime than about 36% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,176.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, California City is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in California City, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, California City has a violent crime rate of 588.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,587.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does California City compare to the national average?
California City's total crime rate of 2,176.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 13,418 residents.
What types of crime are most common in California City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in California City include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is California City safe to visit?
Like any city, California City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 36/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.