Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Santa Monica, CA has a Safety Score of 3/100 — higher crime than 97% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,894 of 2,971 US cities and #258 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Santa Monica, California Safe?
Santa Monica, a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, is known for its iconic pier and vibrant tourism. Its beaches and Pacific Ocean proximity draw a diverse population, including many young professionals and families.
Santa Monica has a safety score of 3/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Santa Monica ranks #258 out of 264 cities in California and #2894 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 3rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 97% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Santa Monica is burglary, at 848.8 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Santa Monica's total crime rate decreased by 1.1%, with violent crime declining 10.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Santa Monica Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 696 | 782.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 64 | 72.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 180 | 202.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 444 | 499.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 4,261 | 4,790.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 755 | 848.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,009 | 3,382.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 497 | 558.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Santa Monica vs California Average
How does Santa Monica's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Santa Monica | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 782.5 | 518.0 | +51.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,790.4 | 2,161.3 | +121.6% |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 4.4 | +2.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,572.9 | 2,679.3 | +108.0% |
Santa Monica Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Santa Monica, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88,948 | 5,572.9 | 782.5 | 4,790.4 |
| 2023 | 88,552 | 5,636.2 | 874.1 | 4,762.2 |
| 2022 | 89,527 | 5,386.1 | 854.5 | 4,531.6 |
| 2020 | 90,474 | 4,855.5 | 598.0 | 4,257.6 |
| 2019 | 91,621 | 5,051.2 | 724.7 | 4,326.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Monica, California safe?
Santa Monica has a safety score of 3/100, meaning it has less crime than about 3% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Santa Monica is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Santa Monica, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Santa Monica has a violent crime rate of 782.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,790.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Santa Monica compare to the national average?
Santa Monica's total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 88,948 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Santa Monica?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Santa Monica include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Santa Monica safe to visit?
Like any city, Santa Monica has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 3/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.