Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto, CA Crime Rate & Safety
FBI-verified crime statistics for 2024 | Population: 65,079
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Palo Alto, California Safe?
Palo Alto has a safety score of 41/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Palo Alto ranks #223 out of 264 cities in California and #2509 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 16th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 84% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Palo Alto is larceny-theft, at 2,623.0 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Palo Alto's total crime rate increased by 7.7%, with violent crime rising 1.9%.
Palo Alto Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 138 | 212.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 25 | 38.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 35 | 53.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 77 | 118.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,974 | 3,033.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 147 | 225.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,707 | 2,623.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 120 | 184.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Palo Alto vs California Average
How does Palo Alto's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 212.1 | 518.0 | -59.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,033.2 | 2,161.3 | +40.3% |
| Murder Rate | 1.5 | 4.4 | -65.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,245.3 | 2,679.3 | +21.1% |
Palo Alto Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Palo Alto, California.
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65,079 | 3,245.3 | 212.1 | 3,033.2 |
| 2023 | 64,855 | 3,012.9 | 208.2 | 2,804.7 |
| 2022 | 64,922 | 3,253.1 | 212.6 | 3,040.6 |
| 2021 | 67,266 | 344.9 | 17.8 | 327.1 |
| 2020 | 65,459 | 3,073.7 | 123.7 | 2,949.9 |
| 2019 | 66,938 | 3,090.9 | 128.5 | 2,962.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palo Alto, California safe?
Palo Alto has a safety score of 41/100. With a total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Palo Alto is about average compared to the national average.
What is the crime rate in Palo Alto, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Palo Alto has a violent crime rate of 212.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,033.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Palo Alto compare to the national average?
Palo Alto's total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The city has a population of 65,079.
What types of crime are most common in Palo Alto?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Palo Alto include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Palo Alto safe to visit?
Like any city, Palo Alto has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 41/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.