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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Desert Hot Springs, CA has a Safety Score of 50/100 — safer than 50% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,691.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,487 of 2,971 US cities and #85 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Desert Hot Springs, California Safe?
Desert Hot Springs, California, a city known for its natural hot springs, lies in the Coachella Valley. Founded by Cabot Yerxa, it is a small city with a population of around 32,000, primarily composed of working-class families.
Desert Hot Springs has a safety score of 50/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,691.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Desert Hot Springs ranks #85 out of 264 cities in California and #1487 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 50th percentile for safety — safer than 50% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Desert Hot Springs is murder, at 8.9 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Desert Hot Springs's total crime rate decreased by 12.4%, with violent crime declining 1.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Desert Hot Springs Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 166 | 491.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 8.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 10 | 29.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 40 | 118.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 113 | 334.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 405 | 1,200.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 92 | 272.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 186 | 551.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 127 | 376.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Desert Hot Springs vs California Average
How does Desert Hot Springs's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Desert Hot Springs | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 491.9 | 518.0 | -5.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,200.0 | 2,161.3 | -44.5% |
| Murder Rate | 8.9 | 4.4 | +102.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,691.9 | 2,679.3 | -36.9% |
Desert Hot Springs Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Desert Hot Springs, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33,749 | 1,691.9 | 491.9 | 1,200.0 |
| 2023 | 33,392 | 1,931.6 | 497.1 | 1,434.5 |
| 2022 | 32,923 | 2,211.2 | 671.3 | 1,540.0 |
| 2020 | 29,074 | 2,400.8 | 749.8 | 1,651.0 |
| 2019 | 29,107 | 3,212.3 | 876.1 | 2,336.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Desert Hot Springs, California safe?
Desert Hot Springs has a safety score of 50/100, meaning it has less crime than about 50% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,691.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Desert Hot Springs is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Desert Hot Springs, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Desert Hot Springs has a violent crime rate of 491.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,200.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Desert Hot Springs compare to the national average?
Desert Hot Springs's total crime rate of 1,691.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 33,749 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Desert Hot Springs?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Desert Hot Springs include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Desert Hot Springs safe to visit?
Like any city, Desert Hot Springs has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 50/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.