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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 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 #2,472 of 2,957 US cities and #221 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than San Jose, CA?
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, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
San Jose ranks #221 out of 264 cities in California and #2472 out of 2957 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 5,807 | 606.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 26 | 2.7 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 740 | 77.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,347 | 140.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,693 | 386.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 24,762 | 2,587.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 4,086 | 427.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 14,575 | 1,523.2 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6,101 | 637.6 | 358.0 |
| 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.
Between 2019 and 2024, San Jose's total crime rate is up 12% (2,858 → 3,195 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 38% and property crime up 7% over the same period.
| 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 |
San Jose Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for San Jose 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 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 are larceny-theft (14,575 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (6,101 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.3x in the city.
How many murders were reported in San Jose in 2024?
26 murders were reported to the FBI for San Jose in 2024 — a homicide rate of 2.7 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in San Jose going up or down?
San Jose's total crime rate is rising: 12% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (3,195 vs 2,858 per 100,000, FBI data).
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.