Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Tehachapi, CA has a Safety Score of 17/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,124.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,455 of 2,971 US cities and #215 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Tehachapi, California Safe?
Nestled in a mountain pass, Tehachapi is a small city known for its historic Tehachapi Loop railway engineering marvel. This Kern County community sits at a high elevation, offering a unique blend of high desert and mountain environments.
Tehachapi has a safety score of 17/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,124.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Tehachapi ranks #215 out of 264 cities in California and #2455 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 17th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 83% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Tehachapi is rape, at 77.9 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Tehachapi's total crime rate increased by 16.4%, with violent crime rising 33.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Tehachapi Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 59 | 574.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 77.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 10 | 97.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 41 | 399.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 262 | 2,549.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 13 | 126.5 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 210 | 2,043.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 39 | 379.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Tehachapi vs California Average
How does Tehachapi's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Tehachapi | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 574.2 | 518.0 | +10.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,549.9 | 2,161.3 | +18.0% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,124.1 | 2,679.3 | +16.6% |
Tehachapi Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Tehachapi, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,275 | 3,124.1 | 574.2 | 2,549.9 |
| 2023 | 12,104 | 2,685.1 | 429.6 | 2,255.5 |
| 2022 | 13,212 | 2,687.0 | 461.7 | 2,225.3 |
| 2020 | 12,873 | 3,037.4 | 435.0 | 2,602.4 |
| 2019 | 12,211 | 3,169.3 | 491.4 | 2,677.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tehachapi, California safe?
Tehachapi has a safety score of 17/100, meaning it has less crime than about 17% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,124.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Tehachapi is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Tehachapi, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Tehachapi has a violent crime rate of 574.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,549.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Tehachapi compare to the national average?
Tehachapi's total crime rate of 3,124.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,275 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Tehachapi?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Tehachapi include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Tehachapi safe to visit?
Like any city, Tehachapi has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 17/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.