Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Foster City, CA has a Safety Score of 84/100 — safer than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 738.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #469 of 2,957 US cities and #10 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Foster City, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Foster City, California Safe?
Foster City, a master-planned community built on reclaimed land in San Mateo County, sits on the San Francisco Peninsula. Its lagoons and canals, a defining feature, are home to a diverse population of over 30,000 residents.
Foster City has a safety score of 84/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 738.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Foster City ranks #10 out of 264 cities in California and #469 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 84th percentile for safety — safer than 84% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Foster City are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Foster City's total crime rate decreased by 33.9%, with violent crime rising 44.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Foster City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 22 | 69.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 2 | 6.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 7 | 22.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 13 | 41.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 212 | 669.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 7 | 22.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 176 | 555.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 | 91.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Foster City vs California Average
How does Foster City's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Foster City | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 69.4 | 518.0 | -86.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 669.2 | 2,161.3 | -69.0% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 738.6 | 2,679.3 | -72.4% |
Foster City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Foster City, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31,680 | 738.6 | 69.4 | 669.2 |
| 2023 | 31,228 | 1,117.6 | 48.0 | 1,069.6 |
| 2022 | 31,389 | 1,366.7 | 133.8 | 1,232.9 |
| 2021 | 33,131 | 796.8 | 36.2 | 760.6 |
| 2020 | 34,291 | 1,525.2 | 119.6 | 1,405.6 |
| 2019 | 34,624 | 1,340.1 | 112.6 | 1,227.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foster City, California safe?
Foster City has a safety score of 84/100, meaning it has less crime than about 84% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 738.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Foster City is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Foster City, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Foster City has a violent crime rate of 69.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 669.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Foster City compare to the national average?
Foster City's total crime rate of 738.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 31,680 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Foster City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Foster City are larceny-theft (176 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (29 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 9.6x in the city.
Is Foster City safe to visit?
Like any city, Foster City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 84/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.