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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, El Centro, CA has a Safety Score of 53/100 — safer than 53% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,595.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,404 of 2,971 US cities and #75 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is El Centro, California Safe?
El Centro, founded in 1906, is the largest city in Imperial County, situated in the Sonoran Desert. Its economy is largely agricultural, benefiting from irrigation from the Colorado River.
El Centro has a safety score of 53/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,595.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
El Centro ranks #75 out of 264 cities in California and #1404 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 53rd percentile for safety — safer than 53% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in El Centro is burglary, at 475.3 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, El Centro's total crime rate decreased by 15.4%, with violent crime declining 2.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
El Centro Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 143 | 328.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 4.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 10 | 23.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 32 | 73.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 99 | 227.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 552 | 1,267.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 207 | 475.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 271 | 622.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 74 | 169.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
El Centro vs California Average
How does El Centro's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | El Centro | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 328.4 | 518.0 | -36.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,267.5 | 2,161.3 | -41.4% |
| Murder Rate | 4.6 | 4.4 | +4.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,595.9 | 2,679.3 | -40.4% |
El Centro Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for El Centro, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43,550 | 1,595.9 | 328.4 | 1,267.5 |
| 2023 | 43,615 | 1,887.0 | 337.0 | 1,549.9 |
| 2022 | 44,076 | 2,432.2 | 344.9 | 2,087.3 |
| 2020 | 44,238 | 2,624.4 | 357.2 | 2,267.3 |
| 2019 | 44,303 | 2,995.3 | 322.8 | 2,672.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Centro, California safe?
El Centro has a safety score of 53/100, meaning it has less crime than about 53% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,595.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, El Centro is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in El Centro, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, El Centro has a violent crime rate of 328.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,267.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does El Centro compare to the national average?
El Centro's total crime rate of 1,595.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 43,550 residents.
What types of crime are most common in El Centro?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in El Centro include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is El Centro safe to visit?
Like any city, El Centro has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 53/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.