California features iconic natural attractions such as beaches, mountains, deserts, and complex cities. As a state with 39 million plus population, it has large cities and also towns and cities that are small but with a strong community feel. It was also found that people especially families and individuals looking for a place to live in California are more concerned with the safety of the place. Fortunately – California is replete with secure cities and towns where people can have their permanent residence.
According to the most recent statistics from the FBI, these are 20 of the safest cities in California as we head into 2024.
1. Danville
This town in Contra Costa County, East Bay region, outranks all others in terms of safety in California. For instance, Danville ranked among the cities with the lowest crime rates in the San Francisco Bay Area with 96 violent crimes in 2021. Offering family-oriented communities, high-ranking schools, and a suburban environment, Danville did not have a single murder and recorded only 3 robberies the previous year.
2. Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita, situated in Orange County, is another city that does not have significantly high levels of property and violent crime rates. This is a well-planned community that has a good security system that is established to protect the residents of the community. There was also a significant reduction in violent crimes in 2021 where only 52 cases were reported and no single case of murder was witnessed.
3. Moorpark
With the city situated near Los Angeles and having the best schools in the county, it is not surprising that Moorpark recorded no murders or manslaughters in 2021. This Ventura County city has a violent crime rate of 1. 1 per 1,000 population implying that it is safe to purchase a home and raise a family.
4. Murrieta
One of the cities in Riverside County, Murrieta has been experiencing vast development and expansion in the past twenty years but still seems to be a small city. Murrieta had no reported murder cases and a mere 16 robbery incidents in the whole year of 2021. As a result of great emphasis on strong neighborhood watch programs and community policing, Murrieta remains among the safest cities in California.
5. Mission Viejo
But no high rate of violence and property crimes that one can associate with Mission Viejo can be attributed to the excellent crime-prevention programs, as well as departments, the city boasts of. Ranking at the top as the safest city in California according to BackgroundChecks. org, Mission Viejo in Orange County recorded no murders or manslaughters in 2021.
6. Thousand Oaks
Parents are attracted to Thousand Oaks because there are few violent crimes, there are trees everywhere, and all the schools are excellent. For the year 2021 Thousand Oaks ranked very low in terms of crime rate in the state, with only 263 violent crimes recorded. The public safety resources make T.O. residents live a quality life and free from any façade of insecurity.
7. Rancho Palos Verdes
The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is located in the southern part of the state of California on the Pacific coast in Los Angeles County. This is because Rancho P. V is a beautiful community located near the coast with a predominantly residential population and the community recorded no murders or manslaughters in the last year. This has also ensured that policies on crime prevention and enhanced safety have benefitted from strong community partnerships.
8. Santa Clarita
The largest city in the United States, Santa Clarita is situated within an hour’s drive from LA and is among the fastest-growing cities. Fortunately, Santa Clarita, which currently has a population of 173,851 people, has a moderate crime rate. The city recorded only two murders in 2021 and uses environmental approaches to control crime such as designing places, educating people, and engaging the public.
9. Laguna Niguel
This unique city is located in Orange County along the coast and is famous for its green parks and golf courses as well as beautiful views of the sea. The year before the survey recorded only a few incidents of violent crime in Laguna Niguel including no murders or manslaughters, and ten robberies. The above city has kept a violent crime rate that is both reasonable and has shown a good trend over the last decade.
10. Lincoln
Located in Placer County, approximately forty-five minutes or forty-five miles northeast of Sacramento, the city of Lincoln offers the charm of a small town with easy access to all the benefits of city life. Lincoln has committed public officials, vigilant neighbors, and active participants in a community that has actively made efforts to reduce the chances of crime. The murder rate was at zero in 2021 with a total of 43 violent crimes recorded throughout the year.
11. Foster City
Foster City is in the San Francisco Bay Area situated along the eastern shoreline and it has been widely regarded as one of the safest cities in California, for consecutive years. Due to the active participation by neighborhood groups and the sense of togetherness in the community, Foster City did not record any murder cases and only registered four robberies incidences in the whole of 2021. This is one of the safest areas in the state where cases of violent offenses are reported rarely.
12. Los Alamitos
One of the tiniest cities in northern Orange County close to the border with Los Angeles County is Los Alamitos, which has a lot to protect families. In 2021, the crime rates of Los Alamitos were as follows: zero murders and four robberies. Its objectives here are to reduce substance use and DRUG USE among the youth and improve security in the community.
13. Saratoga
Saratoga which is located in the western part of the valley at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay is one of the safest cities in the Bay area. Saratoga provides unique and customized solutions for the safety and security of its business and housing sectors. In the year 2021, it was a nonmurderous year with only eight robberies and 79 acts of violence throughout the year.
14. Aliso Viejo
A master-planned city situated in picturesque Orange County, Aliso Viejo has a beautiful custom home neighborhood and efficient city utilities. The population of Aliso Viejo inevitably did not experience any murders or manslaughters in 2021 with a rate of 0. 55 violent crimes per 1000 residents. High community involvement in solutions, and close cooperation with schools, business places, and police have been very efficient here.
15. Yorba Linda
Safety, pleasant neighborhoods with good schools and other facilities, and clean parks make many families relocate their homes and businesses in Yorba Linda in northeast Orange County every year. Yorba Linda says that they registered 0 murders or manslaughters within the year 2021 and only 92 violent crimes in total. This relatively enclosed population appreciates or expects efficient public safety agencies.
16. Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods Village as a gated community was planned and developed in the 60s and 70s in Orange County for people to retire. However, in serving the senior residents, it provides safety programming tailored to the senior’s needs with the residential safety check and elder abuse. Laguna Woods did not report any murders or any non-negligent manslaughters in the year before the survey.
17. Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach is the southernmost city located in the United States mainland, situated on the gorgeous San Diego coast, on the Mexican border. In the entire year of 2021, the Imperial Beach Police Department recorded only a hundred and six violent crimes, and no homicides. People in a given area appreciate the quick response from the police or fire departments.
18. Brentwood
Being an East Bay city, Brentwood combines the friendly vibes of a small town with the infrastructure of a progressive region. The decisive factors are community policing, youth activities, neighborhood watches, and crime prevention to maintain a low rate of violent crimes in the area. A year ago, no murders were reported in Brentwood; 46 robberies and 120 violent crimes were reported.
19. Eastvale
Another relatively young city is Eastvale, which is situated in northwestern Riverside County; the development of this settlement began in 2000. While developing different suburban areas and commerce regions in Eastvale, illumination, surveillance cameras, guard booths, and police/patriot events are also necessary. The Eastvale had no record of any murder or manslaughter in the whole year of 2021.
20. Folsom
Folsom's economy is robust and the crime rate is low. Nestled in the lovely countryside and abundant in leisure activities east of Sacramento. Strong cooperation among the several public safety agencies and the several segments of society has brought rather quickly under control the problem of crime. Folsom reported 22 robberies last year in addition to a total of 168 violent offenses; he did not record any single murders.
In Closing
The above list represents the 20 most secure cities in California as one looks forward to the year 2024 based on the FBI crime statistics. Low crime rates greatly enhance the quality of living standards of the inhabitants, thereby promoting togetherness and harmony. They include everything from neighborhood watch, security systems, and even youth organizations and recruitment – but the focus relies on communication and cooperation. Keeping cities safe is a challenging task that requires effort, ingenuity, and support from participants which include schools, businesses, police, government institutions, and citizens. With these components in their place, the cities above will continue to progress and have a lower future crime rate.
