Violent
Property
Total
El Cerrito, CA Crime Rate & Safety
FBI-verified crime statistics for 2024 | Population: 25,424
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is El Cerrito, California Safe?
El Cerrito has a safety score of 35/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,524.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
El Cerrito ranks #232 out of 264 cities in California and #2606 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 12th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 88% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in El Cerrito is robbery, at 287.1 per 100K — 3.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, El Cerrito's total crime rate decreased by 20.5%, with violent crime declining 1.7%.
El Cerrito Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 122 | 479.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 15.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 73 | 287.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 45 | 177.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 774 | 3,044.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 86 | 338.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 573 | 2,253.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 115 | 452.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
El Cerrito vs California Average
How does El Cerrito's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | El Cerrito | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 479.9 | 518.0 | -7.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,044.4 | 2,161.3 | +40.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,524.2 | 2,679.3 | +31.5% |
El Cerrito Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for El Cerrito, California.
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,424 | 3,524.2 | 479.9 | 3,044.4 |
| 2023 | 25,393 | 4,434.3 | 488.3 | 3,946.0 |
| 2022 | 25,718 | 4,487.1 | 431.6 | 4,055.5 |
| 2021 | 25,585 | 2,145.8 | 215.0 | 1,930.8 |
| 2020 | 25,725 | 4,062.2 | 443.2 | 3,619.1 |
| 2019 | 25,857 | 5,615.5 | 587.9 | 5,027.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Cerrito, California safe?
El Cerrito has a safety score of 35/100. With a total crime rate of 3,524.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, El Cerrito is higher than average in crime compared to the national average.
What is the crime rate in El Cerrito, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, El Cerrito has a violent crime rate of 479.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,044.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does El Cerrito compare to the national average?
El Cerrito's total crime rate of 3,524.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The city has a population of 25,424.
What types of crime are most common in El Cerrito?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in El Cerrito include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is El Cerrito safe to visit?
Like any city, El Cerrito has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 35/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.