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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Imperial, CA has a Safety Score of 98/100 — safer than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 259.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #47 of 2,971 US cities and #1 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Imperial, California Safe?
Imperial, California, a city in the Imperial Valley near the Mexican border, was incorporated in 1904. Its desert climate supports a significant agricultural industry, with a population around 20,000.
Imperial has a safety score of 98/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 259.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Imperial ranks #1 out of 264 cities in California and #47 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 98th percentile for safety — safer than 98% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Imperial are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Imperial's total crime rate decreased by 40.3%, with violent crime declining 52.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Imperial Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 17 | 77.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 2 | 9.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 15 | 68.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 40 | 182.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 7 | 31.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 23 | 104.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 10 | 45.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Imperial vs California Average
How does Imperial's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Imperial | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 77.3 | 518.0 | -85.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 182.0 | 2,161.3 | -91.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 259.3 | 2,679.3 | -90.3% |
Imperial Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Imperial, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,980 | 259.3 | 77.3 | 182.0 |
| 2023 | 21,654 | 434.1 | 161.6 | 272.5 |
| 2022 | 21,626 | 457.8 | 92.5 | 365.3 |
| 2020 | 18,528 | 345.4 | 48.6 | 296.9 |
| 2019 | 18,090 | 337.2 | 27.6 | 309.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Imperial, California safe?
Imperial has a safety score of 98/100, meaning it has less crime than about 98% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 259.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Imperial is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Imperial, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Imperial has a violent crime rate of 77.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 182.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Imperial compare to the national average?
Imperial's total crime rate of 259.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,980 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Imperial?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Imperial include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Imperial safe to visit?
Like any city, Imperial has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 98/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.