Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Ridgecrest, CA has a Safety Score of 48/100 — higher crime than 52% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,750.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,532 of 2,957 US cities and #91 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Ridgecrest, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ridgecrest, California Safe?
Ridgecrest, California, in the upper Mojave Desert, is home to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. This isolated city is a supply hub for the surrounding arid region.
Ridgecrest has a safety score of 48/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,750.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Ridgecrest ranks #91 out of 264 cities in California and #1532 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 48th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 52% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Ridgecrest is aggravated assault, at 544.3 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Ridgecrest's total crime rate increased by 14.3%, with violent crime rising 22.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ridgecrest Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 190 | 675.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 3.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 18 | 64.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 18 | 64.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 153 | 544.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 302 | 1,074.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 45 | 160.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 205 | 729.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 52 | 185.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ridgecrest vs California Average
How does Ridgecrest's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Ridgecrest | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 675.9 | 518.0 | +30.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,074.4 | 2,161.3 | -50.3% |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 4.4 | -19.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,750.3 | 2,679.3 | -34.7% |
Ridgecrest Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ridgecrest, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28,110 | 1,750.3 | 675.9 | 1,074.4 |
| 2023 | 28,530 | 1,531.7 | 553.8 | 977.9 |
| 2022 | 28,290 | 1,965.4 | 572.6 | 1,392.7 |
| 2020 | 29,120 | 1,641.5 | 542.6 | 1,098.9 |
| 2019 | 29,101 | 1,865.9 | 488.0 | 1,378.0 |
Ridgecrest Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest, California safe?
Ridgecrest has a safety score of 48/100, meaning it has less crime than about 48% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,750.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ridgecrest is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Ridgecrest, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ridgecrest has a violent crime rate of 675.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,074.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ridgecrest compare to the national average?
Ridgecrest's total crime rate of 1,750.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 28,110 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ridgecrest?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ridgecrest are larceny-theft (205 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (153 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 1.6x in the city.
Is Ridgecrest safe to visit?
Like any city, Ridgecrest has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 48/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.