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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Grass Valley, CA has a Safety Score of 25/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,686.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,230 of 2,957 US cities and #195 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Grass Valley, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Grass Valley, California Safe?
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Grass Valley boomed during the Gold Rush, its historic downtown now a cultural hub. This small city, with a population around 13,000, retains much of its charming 19th-century architecture.
Grass Valley has a safety score of 25/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,686.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Grass Valley ranks #195 out of 264 cities in California and #2230 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Grass Valley is rape, at 92.4 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Grass Valley's total crime rate decreased by 22.2%, with violent crime declining 41.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Grass Valley Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 76 | 540.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 13 | 92.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 5 | 35.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 58 | 412.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 302 | 2,146.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 40 | 284.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 201 | 1,428.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 61 | 433.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Grass Valley vs California Average
How does Grass Valley's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Grass Valley | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 540.2 | 518.0 | +4.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,146.4 | 2,161.3 | -0.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,686.6 | 2,679.3 | +0.3% |
Grass Valley Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Grass Valley, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14,070 | 2,686.6 | 540.2 | 2,146.4 |
| 2023 | 13,892 | 3,455.2 | 928.6 | 2,526.6 |
| 2022 | 13,895 | 4,203.0 | 1,245.1 | 2,957.9 |
| 2020 | 12,811 | 3,512.6 | 538.6 | 2,974.0 |
| 2019 | 12,919 | 4,156.7 | 572.8 | 3,583.9 |
Grass Valley Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Grass Valley and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: California crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grass Valley, California safe?
Grass Valley has a safety score of 25/100, meaning it has less crime than about 25% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,686.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Grass Valley is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Grass Valley, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Grass Valley has a violent crime rate of 540.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,146.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Grass Valley compare to the national average?
Grass Valley's total crime rate of 2,686.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 14,070 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Grass Valley?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Grass Valley are larceny-theft (201 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (61 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.0x in the city.
Is Grass Valley safe to visit?
Like any city, Grass Valley has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 25/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.