Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Whittier, CA has a Safety Score of 22/100 — higher crime than 78% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,865.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,309 of 2,957 US cities and #202 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Whittier, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Whittier, California Safe?
Whittier, a city in southeast Los Angeles County, is known for its tree-lined streets and historic Uptown district, home to Whittier College. Its diverse population includes a significant Hispanic community.
Whittier has a safety score of 22/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,865.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Whittier ranks #202 out of 264 cities in California and #2309 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 22nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 78% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Whittier is robbery, at 143.1 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Whittier's total crime rate increased by 5.5%, with violent crime rising 14.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Whittier Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 408 | 490.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 24 | 28.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 119 | 143.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 260 | 312.6 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,976 | 2,375.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 284 | 341.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,336 | 1,606.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 356 | 428.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Whittier vs California Average
How does Whittier's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Whittier | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 490.5 | 518.0 | -5.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,375.4 | 2,161.3 | +9.9% |
| Murder Rate | 6.0 | 4.4 | +36.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,865.9 | 2,679.3 | +7.0% |
Whittier Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Whittier, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83,186 | 2,865.9 | 490.5 | 2,375.4 |
| 2023 | 83,269 | 2,717.7 | 428.7 | 2,289.0 |
| 2022 | 83,612 | 1,907.6 | 257.1 | 1,650.5 |
| 2020 | 85,074 | 2,199.3 | 278.6 | 1,920.7 |
| 2019 | 86,158 | 2,453.6 | 247.2 | 2,206.4 |
Whittier Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Whittier 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 Whittier, California safe?
Whittier has a safety score of 22/100, meaning it has less crime than about 22% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,865.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Whittier is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Whittier, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Whittier has a violent crime rate of 490.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,375.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Whittier compare to the national average?
Whittier's total crime rate of 2,865.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 83,186 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Whittier?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Whittier are larceny-theft (1,336 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (356 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.8x in the city.
Is Whittier safe to visit?
Like any city, Whittier has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 22/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.