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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Palm Springs, CA has a Safety Score of 10/100 — higher crime than 90% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,821.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,665 of 2,957 US cities and #241 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Palm Springs, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Palm Springs, California Safe?
Nestled in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is an iconic desert resort known for its mid-century modern architecture and as a playground for Hollywood's elite. Its population swells seasonally, attracting snowbirds and tourists seeking warm weather and leisure.
Palm Springs has a safety score of 10/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,821.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Palm Springs ranks #241 out of 264 cities in California and #2665 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 10th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 90% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Palm Springs is murder, at 11.0 per 100K — 1.7x the national average.
Year over year, Palm Springs's total crime rate decreased by 10.5%, with violent crime rising 4.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Palm Springs Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 276 | 607.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 11.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 31 | 68.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 67 | 147.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 171 | 376.6 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,459 | 3,213.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 175 | 385.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,069 | 2,354.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 215 | 473.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Palm Springs vs California Average
How does Palm Springs's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Palm Springs | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 607.9 | 518.0 | +17.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,213.2 | 2,161.3 | +48.7% |
| Murder Rate | 11.0 | 4.4 | +150.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,821.1 | 2,679.3 | +42.6% |
Palm Springs Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Palm Springs, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45,406 | 3,821.1 | 607.9 | 3,213.2 |
| 2023 | 45,526 | 4,267.9 | 582.1 | 3,685.8 |
| 2022 | 45,463 | 5,655.2 | 699.5 | 4,955.7 |
| 2020 | 48,952 | 3,977.4 | 525.0 | 3,452.4 |
| 2019 | 48,846 | 4,571.5 | 546.6 | 4,024.9 |
Palm Springs Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs, California safe?
Palm Springs has a safety score of 10/100, meaning it has less crime than about 10% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,821.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Palm Springs is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Palm Springs, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Palm Springs has a violent crime rate of 607.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,213.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Palm Springs compare to the national average?
Palm Springs's total crime rate of 3,821.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 45,406 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Palm Springs?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Palm Springs are larceny-theft (1,069 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (215 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.3x in the city.
Is Palm Springs safe to visit?
Like any city, Palm Springs has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 10/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.