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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Watsonville, CA has a Safety Score of 54/100 — safer than 54% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,581.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,366 of 2,957 US cities and #74 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Watsonville, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Watsonville, California Safe?
Watsonville, nestled in the Pajaro Valley, is an agricultural hub known for its berries and apples. This predominantly Hispanic city, home to a historic Japanese community, thrives on its rich agricultural heritage.
Watsonville has a safety score of 54/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,581.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Watsonville ranks #74 out of 264 cities in California and #1366 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 54th percentile for safety — safer than 54% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Watsonville is rape, at 55.6 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Watsonville's total crime rate decreased by 35.4%, with violent crime declining 31.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Watsonville Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 201 | 399.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 28 | 55.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 27 | 53.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 146 | 290.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 595 | 1,182.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 70 | 139.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 375 | 744.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 150 | 298.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Watsonville vs California Average
How does Watsonville's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Watsonville | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 399.3 | 518.0 | -22.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,182.0 | 2,161.3 | -45.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,581.3 | 2,679.3 | -41.0% |
Watsonville Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Watsonville, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50,340 | 1,581.3 | 399.3 | 1,182.0 |
| 2022 | 51,517 | 2,447.7 | 586.2 | 1,861.5 |
| 2020 | 54,151 | 2,642.6 | 552.2 | 2,090.5 |
| 2019 | 54,261 | 2,394.0 | 604.5 | 1,789.5 |
Watsonville Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Watsonville 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 Watsonville, California safe?
Watsonville has a safety score of 54/100, meaning it has less crime than about 54% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,581.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Watsonville is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Watsonville, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Watsonville has a violent crime rate of 399.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,182.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Watsonville compare to the national average?
Watsonville's total crime rate of 1,581.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 50,340 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Watsonville?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Watsonville are larceny-theft (375 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (150 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.0x in the city.
Is Watsonville safe to visit?
Like any city, Watsonville has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 54/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.