Is California City or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, California City is safer than Houston (Safety Score 36/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,176 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 60% lower. California City has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where California City has a 84% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 172.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
California City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
California City, CA
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | California City | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,176.2 | 5,441.7 | -3,265.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 588.8 | 1,148.3 | -559.5 |
| Murder Rate | 7.5 | 13.8 | -6.4 |
| Rape Rate | 22.4 | 73.0 | -50.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 44.7 | 274.0 | -229.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 514.2 | 787.4 | -273.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,587.4 | 4,293.5 | -2,706.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 380.1 | 644.8 | -264.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 842.2 | 2,945.7 | -2,103.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 365.2 | 703.0 | -337.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California City or Houston safer?
California City is safer with a total crime rate of 2,176 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 60% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
California City has a violent crime rate of 588.8 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. California City has lower violent crime.
About California City, CA
California City, an ambitious 1950s planned community in the Mojave Desert, boasts the third-largest land area of any California city. Its vast, grid-like street network often lies empty, a testament to its unfulfilled growth. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 13,418, California City has a total crime rate of 2,176.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.