Is Palo Alto or Portage Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Palo Alto is safer than Portage (Safety Score 16/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 3,245 per 100,000 versus 3,252 for Portage — 0% lower. Palo Alto has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Portage has a 100% lower rate.
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portage — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto, CA
Portage, MI
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Palo Alto | Portage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,245.3 | 3,252.0 | -6.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 212.1 | 277.2 | -65.2 |
| Murder Rate | 1.5 | 0.0 | +1.5 |
| Rape Rate | 38.4 | 48.6 | -10.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 53.8 | 20.2 | +33.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 118.3 | 208.4 | -90.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,033.2 | 2,974.8 | +58.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 225.9 | 269.1 | -43.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,623.0 | 2,545.7 | +77.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 184.4 | 159.9 | +24.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palo Alto or Portage safer?
Palo Alto is safer with a total crime rate of 3,245 per 100K vs 3,252 for Portage — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Palo Alto has a violent crime rate of 212.1 per 100K while Portage has 277.2. Palo Alto has lower violent crime.
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.
About Portage, MI
Portage, Michigan, a Kalamazoo suburb, grew significantly after World War II. It's home to the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, and its population is predominantly white, with a median age of around 40. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 49,416, Portage has a total crime rate of 3,252.0 per 100,000 residents.