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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Walnut Creek, CA has a Safety Score of 17/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,181.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,468 of 2,957 US cities and #219 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Walnut Creek, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Walnut Creek, California Safe?
Walnut Creek, a Contra Costa County city, developed around the historic Shadelands Ranch. Situated at the convergence of three highways, it's a bustling suburban hub with a median age of 47.
Walnut Creek has a safety score of 17/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,181.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Walnut Creek ranks #219 out of 264 cities in California and #2468 out of 2957 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 Walnut Creek is larceny-theft, at 2,257.0 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Walnut Creek's total crime rate increased by 4%, with violent crime declining 4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Walnut Creek Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 195 | 283.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 17 | 24.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 59 | 85.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 117 | 170.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,994 | 2,897.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 268 | 389.5 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,553 | 2,257.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 173 | 251.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Walnut Creek vs California Average
How does Walnut Creek's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Walnut Creek | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 283.4 | 518.0 | -45.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,897.9 | 2,161.3 | +34.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,181.3 | 2,679.3 | +18.7% |
Walnut Creek Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Walnut Creek, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 68,808 | 3,181.3 | 283.4 | 2,897.9 |
| 2023 | 68,441 | 3,059.6 | 295.1 | 2,764.4 |
| 2022 | 69,417 | 3,323.4 | 231.9 | 3,091.5 |
| 2020 | 70,849 | 3,040.3 | 128.4 | 2,911.8 |
| 2019 | 70,546 | 3,708.2 | 170.1 | 3,538.1 |
Walnut Creek Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek, California safe?
Walnut Creek 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 3,181.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Walnut Creek is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Walnut Creek, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Walnut Creek has a violent crime rate of 283.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,897.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Walnut Creek compare to the national average?
Walnut Creek's total crime rate of 3,181.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 68,808 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Walnut Creek?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Walnut Creek are larceny-theft (1,553 reported incidents) and burglary (268 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 10.2x in the city.
Is Walnut Creek safe to visit?
Like any city, Walnut Creek 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.