Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Colton, CA has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,498.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,133 of 2,971 US cities and #173 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Colton, California Safe?
Colton, California, a historic railroad town, lies in the Inland Empire. It's home to the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant, a landmark reflecting its mid-20th century growth. The city is primarily a working-class community with a diverse population.
Colton has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,498.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Colton ranks #173 out of 264 cities in California and #2133 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
Year over year, Colton's total crime rate decreased by 32.4%, with violent crime declining 1.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Colton Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 209 | 393.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 5.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 22.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 56 | 105.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 138 | 259.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,119 | 2,105.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 160 | 301.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 754 | 1,418.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 205 | 385.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Colton vs California Average
How does Colton's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Colton | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 393.2 | 518.0 | -24.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,105.2 | 2,161.3 | -2.6% |
| Murder Rate | 5.6 | 4.4 | +28.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,498.5 | 2,679.3 | -6.7% |
Colton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Colton, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 53,153 | 2,498.5 | 393.2 | 2,105.2 |
| 2023 | 53,893 | 3,694.4 | 400.8 | 3,293.6 |
| 2022 | 54,597 | 2,989.2 | 406.6 | 2,582.6 |
| 2021 | 54,911 | 2,529.6 | 411.6 | 2,118.0 |
| 2020 | 55,117 | 2,939.2 | 346.5 | 2,592.7 |
| 2019 | 55,059 | 3,145.7 | 390.5 | 2,755.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colton, California safe?
Colton has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,498.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Colton is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Colton, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Colton has a violent crime rate of 393.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,105.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Colton compare to the national average?
Colton's total crime rate of 2,498.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 53,153 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Colton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Colton include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Colton safe to visit?
Like any city, Colton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.