Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Oakland, CA has a Safety Score of 1/100 — higher crime than 100% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 9,155.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,948 of 2,957 US cities and #263 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Oakland, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Oakland, California Safe?
Oakland, a diverse East Bay city, boasts a rich history of activism and art, including its vibrant jazz scene. Geographically, it sits on the San Francisco Bay's eastern shore, home to a significant port and varied topography.
Oakland has a safety score of 1/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 9,155.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Oakland ranks #263 out of 264 cities in California and #2948 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 0th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 100% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Oakland is robbery, at 680.4 per 100K — 7.2x the national average.
Year over year, Oakland's total crime rate decreased by 33.5%, with violent crime declining 47.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Oakland Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 8,376 | 1,925.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 81 | 18.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 296 | 68.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 2,960 | 680.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 5,039 | 1,158.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 31,455 | 7,230.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 3,423 | 786.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 18,118 | 4,164.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9,914 | 2,278.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Oakland vs California Average
How does Oakland's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Oakland | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,925.3 | 518.0 | +271.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 7,230.3 | 2,161.3 | +234.5% |
| Murder Rate | 18.6 | 4.4 | +323.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 9,155.7 | 2,679.3 | +241.7% |
Oakland Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Oakland, California.
Between 2019 and 2024, Oakland's total crime rate is up 19% (7,692 → 9,156 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 51% and property crime up 13% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2023 at 13,758 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 435,042 | 9,155.7 | 1,925.3 | 7,230.3 |
| 2023 | 425,484 | 13,758.2 | 3,640.8 | 10,117.4 |
| 2022 | 428,374 | 7,996.1 | 1,521.1 | 6,475.0 |
| 2020 | 437,923 | 6,456.6 | 1,290.9 | 5,165.8 |
| 2019 | 434,036 | 7,692.5 | 1,271.8 | 6,420.7 |
Oakland Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Oakland 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 Oakland, California safe?
Oakland has a safety score of 1/100, meaning it has less crime than about 1% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 9,155.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Oakland is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Oakland, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Oakland has a violent crime rate of 1,925.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 7,230.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Oakland compare to the national average?
Oakland's total crime rate of 9,155.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 435,042 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Oakland?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Oakland are larceny-theft (18,118 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (9,914 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.8x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Oakland in 2024?
81 murders were reported to the FBI for Oakland in 2024 — a homicide rate of 18.6 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Oakland going up or down?
Oakland's total crime rate is rising: 19% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (9,156 vs 7,692 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Oakland safe to visit?
Like any city, Oakland has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 1/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.