Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Santa Maria, CA has a Safety Score of 27/100 — higher crime than 73% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,155 of 2,971 US cities and #179 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Santa Maria, California Safe?
Santa Maria, California, a city in northern Santa Barbara County, is known for its barbecue and wine industry. It is the most populous city in the county, with a diverse, predominantly Hispanic population.
Santa Maria has a safety score of 27/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Santa Maria ranks #179 out of 264 cities in California and #2155 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 27th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 73% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Santa Maria is robbery, at 173.6 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Santa Maria's total crime rate decreased by 14.3%, with violent crime rising 7.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Santa Maria Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 727 | 660.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 2.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 75 | 68.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 191 | 173.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 458 | 416.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,072 | 1,882.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 344 | 312.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,265 | 1,149.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 463 | 420.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Santa Maria vs California Average
How does Santa Maria's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Santa Maria | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 660.6 | 518.0 | +27.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,882.7 | 2,161.3 | -12.9% |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 4.4 | -38.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,543.3 | 2,679.3 | -5.1% |
Santa Maria Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Santa Maria, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 110,056 | 2,543.3 | 660.6 | 1,882.7 |
| 2023 | 110,317 | 2,966.9 | 613.7 | 2,353.2 |
| 2022 | 109,518 | 3,439.6 | 654.7 | 2,784.9 |
| 2021 | 106,495 | 3,041.5 | 558.7 | 2,482.8 |
| 2020 | 108,140 | 3,057.2 | 771.2 | 2,285.9 |
| 2019 | 108,414 | 1,790.4 | 429.8 | 1,360.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria, California safe?
Santa Maria has a safety score of 27/100, meaning it has less crime than about 27% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Santa Maria is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Santa Maria, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Santa Maria has a violent crime rate of 660.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,882.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Santa Maria compare to the national average?
Santa Maria's total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 110,056 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Santa Maria?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Santa Maria include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Santa Maria safe to visit?
Like any city, Santa Maria has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 27/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.