Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Pasadena, CA has a Safety Score of 16/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,178.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,481 of 2,971 US cities and #218 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Pasadena, California Safe?
Pasadena, nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, is famous for the Rose Bowl Parade. This affluent city in Los Angeles County is home to a diverse population.
Pasadena has a safety score of 16/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,178.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Pasadena ranks #218 out of 264 cities in California and #2481 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 17th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 83% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Pasadena is burglary, at 557.0 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Pasadena's total crime rate increased by 1.7%, with violent crime declining 9.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Pasadena Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 635 | 481.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 0.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 44 | 33.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 158 | 119.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 431 | 326.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 3,559 | 2,696.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 735 | 557.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,461 | 1,864.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 363 | 275.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Pasadena vs California Average
How does Pasadena's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Pasadena | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 481.2 | 518.0 | -7.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,696.9 | 2,161.3 | +24.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.8 | 4.4 | -82.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,178.1 | 2,679.3 | +18.6% |
Pasadena Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Pasadena, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 131,966 | 3,178.1 | 481.2 | 2,696.9 |
| 2023 | 132,210 | 3,124.6 | 530.2 | 2,594.4 |
| 2022 | 133,312 | 2,673.4 | 383.3 | 2,290.1 |
| 2020 | 141,473 | 2,428.0 | 292.6 | 2,135.4 |
| 2019 | 141,913 | 2,451.5 | 432.0 | 2,019.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pasadena, California safe?
Pasadena has a safety score of 16/100, meaning it has less crime than about 16% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,178.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Pasadena is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Pasadena, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Pasadena has a violent crime rate of 481.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,696.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Pasadena compare to the national average?
Pasadena's total crime rate of 3,178.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 131,966 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Pasadena?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Pasadena include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Pasadena safe to visit?
Like any city, Pasadena has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 16/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.