Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Westminster, CA has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,937.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,366 of 2,971 US cities and #204 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Westminster, California Safe?
Westminster, in northern Orange County, is known for its thriving Little Saigon, a hub of Vietnamese culture and commerce. This city, home to a significant Vietnamese American population, is centrally located between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Westminster has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,937.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Westminster ranks #204 out of 264 cities in California and #2366 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Westminster is burglary, at 364.7 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Westminster's total crime rate decreased by 8.2%, with violent crime rising 1.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Westminster Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 387 | 439.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 3.4 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 26 | 29.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 100 | 113.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 255 | 289.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,199 | 2,498.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 321 | 364.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,682 | 1,910.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 196 | 222.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Westminster vs California Average
How does Westminster's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Westminster | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 439.6 | 518.0 | -15.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,498.1 | 2,161.3 | +15.6% |
| Murder Rate | 3.4 | 4.4 | -22.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,937.8 | 2,679.3 | +9.6% |
Westminster Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Westminster, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88,026 | 2,937.8 | 439.6 | 2,498.1 |
| 2023 | 88,710 | 3,200.3 | 434.0 | 2,766.3 |
| 2022 | 89,490 | 3,426.1 | 404.5 | 3,021.6 |
| 2020 | 90,741 | 3,094.5 | 285.4 | 2,809.1 |
| 2019 | 91,086 | 3,150.9 | 284.4 | 2,866.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westminster, California safe?
Westminster has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,937.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Westminster is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Westminster, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Westminster has a violent crime rate of 439.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,498.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Westminster compare to the national average?
Westminster's total crime rate of 2,937.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 88,026 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Westminster?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Westminster include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Westminster safe to visit?
Like any city, Westminster has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.