Is Los Angeles or Palo Alto Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than Palo Alto (Safety Score 35/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 3,245 for Palo Alto — 32% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Palo Alto has a 78% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 58.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Palo Alto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 3,245.3 | -1,032.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 212.1 | +516.5 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 1.5 | +5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 38.4 | +1.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 53.8 | +156.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 118.3 | +353.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 3,033.2 | -1,549.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 225.9 | +146.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 2,623.0 | -1,771.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 184.4 | +75.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Palo Alto safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 3,245 for Palo Alto — a 32% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Palo Alto has 212.1. Palo Alto has lower violent crime.
About Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, is a wealthy Silicon Valley hub home to Stanford University. Its residents are highly educated, with a significant portion holding advanced degrees. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 65,079, Palo Alto has a total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 residents.