Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, National City, CA has a Safety Score of 26/100 — higher crime than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,635.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,212 of 2,971 US cities and #190 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is National City, California Safe?
National City, San Diego County's second-oldest city, boasts a historic mile-long pier. This diverse South Bay community, bordering San Diego, is home to a significant Filipino population.
National City has a safety score of 26/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,635.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
National City ranks #190 out of 264 cities in California and #2212 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 26th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 74% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in National City is robbery, at 222.2 per 100K — 2.4x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, National City's total crime rate decreased by 5%, with violent crime rising 5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
National City Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 382 | 695.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 7.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 16 | 29.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 122 | 222.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 240 | 437.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,065 | 1,939.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 133 | 242.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 571 | 1,039.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 361 | 657.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
National City vs California Average
How does National City's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | National City | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 695.6 | 518.0 | +34.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,939.4 | 2,161.3 | -10.3% |
| Murder Rate | 7.3 | 4.4 | +65.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,635.0 | 2,679.3 | -1.7% |
National City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for National City, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54,915 | 2,635.0 | 695.6 | 1,939.4 |
| 2023 | 55,270 | 2,773.7 | 662.2 | 2,111.5 |
| 2022 | 55,676 | 2,854.0 | 614.3 | 2,239.7 |
| 2021 | 61,171 | 2,862.5 | 683.3 | 2,179.1 |
| 2020 | 61,710 | 2,448.6 | 568.8 | 1,879.8 |
| 2019 | 61,791 | 2,406.5 | 589.1 | 1,817.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is National City, California safe?
National City has a safety score of 26/100, meaning it has less crime than about 26% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,635.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, National City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in National City, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, National City has a violent crime rate of 695.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,939.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does National City compare to the national average?
National City's total crime rate of 2,635.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 54,915 residents.
What types of crime are most common in National City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in National City include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is National City safe to visit?
Like any city, National City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 26/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.