It is famous for its diverse beaches, fine climate, geographical variation, and modern metropolitan areas. But since the good things in life are always present the same also can be said of some not-so-good things. This is true especially in the southern and central regions of California, though in some of the urban areas, the crime rate is higher than the national average. Hence, safety is a paramount factor for individuals interested in relocating to, or within, the state of California.

1. Danville

First of all, regarding safety, the town of Danville takes the position on the top list of California. Among all communities in California with such a population, it is one of the safest with exceptionally low violent and property crime rates. However, in 2021, the incidence of violent crimes in Danville was only 8 for every 10,000 individuals. Other crimes such as property crime also show a very low incidence of 12 per 1000 people. The absence of crime, quality education systems, beautiful climate, and spacious neighborhoods with homes that may cost up to a million dollars make Danville one of the safest and most attractive residential areas in the Bay Area region.

2. Laguna Niguel

A very safe city situated in the Orange County of California between the two large cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, there is a very low crime rate recorded in this city in all categories. For violent crimes, the number of recorded incidents in 2021 was only 13 per 10,000, while the property crimes were only 93 per 10,000 Laguna Niguel residents which are considerably lower than California state mean. It is safe to live in Laguna Niguel because of the low poverty levels and the population mainly consists of the elderly. The suburban communities are available to families which are located between the Coastal Hills and the Pacific Coast.

3. Saratoga

Saratoga, a small town in Silicon Valley, belongs to the top California towns by safety ratings of various systems. In 2021, per the FBI crime data, Saratoga reported extremely low rates of violent and property crimes. Saratoga Town boasts of just 5 violent and 32 property crimes per ten thousand of the population, thus ranking it among the safest places in California. Its unemployment rate remains low, and the quality of education offered in its public schools is impressive, its other amenities such as parks and recreation also remain excellent which makes it super-safe.

4. Lafayette

Lafayette is a very safe, quiet neighborhood residing in the East Bay Area hills. There has not been any violent crime reported in Lafayette in the year 2021; the rate was 4 per /10,000 population, hence 81% below the national average. Other forms of crimes including property crimes like theft per square mile and burglary are also lower than the state and national average at 22 per 10000 residents of Lafayette. It has a rural setting maintained by rural neighborhoods, little exposure to big cities, and low crime rates.

5. Rancho Santa Margarita

Tustin, an Orange County master-planned community, is among the safest cities, primarily due to its close to zero crime figures. Nevertheless, violent crime instances were reported in Rancho Santa Margarita found to be at 5, and property crimes 17 per 10,000 population in 2021. That is much lower compared to the violent crimes per 100000 people 437 and property crimes of 2245 in California. With the best schools ranked in the city and other family essentials, it is one of the most secure places to live in the city. One major factor that makes the home prices relatively high they are high as families seek security.

6. Cypress

Cypress, a city in the northern part of Orange County, boasts of being among the safest cities in California as illustrated by the 2021 violent crime rate, which was a meager 17 per 10,000 residents, well below the state and national averages. Add to this an average property crime rate of 93 per 10,000 residents, proving that Cypress is indeed a safe city. This is a predominantly middle-aged community of homeowners that offers affordable single homes within proximity to LA within an incredibly secure neighborhood.

7. Palos Verdes Estates

This is a small and select city situated in the Los Angeles County of southern California on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and boasts dramatically low crime rates, particularly of violent crimes. In 2021, Palos Verdes Estates’ violent crime rate stood at 13 per 10k population whereas the property crime rate was a mere 199 per 10k population. Natural conditions such as being on the coastline with excellent beauty, a well-off population, and geographical isolation contribute to very safe circumstances.

8. Dana Point

Speaking of Orange County, Dana Point is one of the most beautiful places in the state, and rather safe, as evidenced by low crime rates. According to federal data, there were 10 violent crimes and only 66 property crimes per 10,000 Dana Point population in the year 2021. This is lower than the average violent and property crime rates in California, which were estimated at 437 and 2245, per 100000 residents, respectively. Families are very attracted to Dana Point since the crime rate is low, and many facilities that welcome families with kids are found there, and the views over the ocean are breathtaking.

9. Moorpark

For a city located in the inland Ventura County, Moorpark shows outstanding public safety for such a city. As the research shows, Moorpark stands among those cities with low violent and property offense rates: 6 violent and 26 property offenses per 10,000 people in 2021. The employment rate is still very low and most of the residents own their homes; taking the poverty rate into consideration, which is almost negligible here in Moorpark, the city is very safe and family-oriented.

10. Lincoln

The last of California’s top 10 safest cities is Lincoln which can be found to the northeast of Sacramento. As the population of this Placer County town continues to expand, it recorded only 2 violent crimes and 10 property offenses per 10,000 population in 2021. Only a mere negligible rate of violent crime and a considerably low level of property crime is enough to explain why safety and security are cherished most in Lincoln. Current inhabitants rely on new residential communities to attract families to Lincoln because such areas offer safety and a small-town environment.

Key Takeaways

California provides great opportunities when it comes to seeking safe living as it is clear from Danville, Laguna Niguel, Saratoga, and other cities that are listed on our rating of safest towns in the USA. These benchmark Golden State cities have violent crime coefficients substantially lower than state and national averages, along with highly favorable property crime numbers.

Some of the other Californian cities that have made the list of safest cities include Dana Point, which is situated near Los Angeles and San Diego, and Palos Verdes Estates; besides, there are great cities besides San Francisco and Sacramento, such as Danville and Lincoln. To keep residents safe yet provide them with exciting opportunities and experiences, these secure but lively neighborhoods are ideal to live in for those seeking the ultimate Californian lifestyle.