Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, San Jose, CA has a Safety Score of 16/100 — higher crime than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,488 of 2,971 US cities and #221 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is San Jose, California Safe?
San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels.
San Jose has a safety score of 16/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
San Jose ranks #221 out of 264 cities in California and #2488 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 San Jose is motor vehicle theft, at 637.6 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, San Jose's total crime rate increased by 0.5%, with violent crime rising 15.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
San Jose Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 5,807 | 606.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 26 | 2.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 740 | 77.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1,347 | 140.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,693 | 386.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 24,762 | 2,587.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 4,086 | 427.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 14,575 | 1,523.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6,101 | 637.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
San Jose vs California Average
How does San Jose's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | San Jose | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 606.9 | 518.0 | +17.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,587.9 | 2,161.3 | +19.7% |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 4.4 | -38.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,194.8 | 2,679.3 | +19.2% |
San Jose Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for San Jose, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 956,840 | 3,194.8 | 606.9 | 2,587.9 |
| 2022 | 956,814 | 3,178.2 | 527.4 | 2,650.8 |
| 2020 | 1,029,542 | 2,741.4 | 425.1 | 2,316.3 |
| 2019 | 1,040,008 | 2,858.2 | 438.6 | 2,419.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose, California safe?
San Jose 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 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, San Jose is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in San Jose, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, San Jose has a violent crime rate of 606.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,587.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does San Jose compare to the national average?
San Jose's total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 956,840 residents.
What types of crime are most common in San Jose?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in San Jose include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is San Jose safe to visit?
Like any city, San Jose 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.