The Safest Cities in California in 2025

What the data really says about crime, safety, and where you live

When people think about California, they usually jump straight to headlines about crime spikes in San Francisco or Los Angeles. The reality is more nuanced. Statewide, California’s violent crime rate in 2023 was 503 incidents per 100,000 residents and property crime was 2,294 per 100,000. Violent crime is still above pre-pandemic levels, but property crime is near a 60-year low. Public Policy Institute of California

At the same time, the California Department of Justice reports that violent crime rose 3.3 percent in 2023 compared with 2022, while property crime fell 1.8 percent. OpenJustice Data The picture is simple and complicated at the same time. Violence is still a concern, but California is not the lawless free-for-all it is often made out to be, and risk varies a lot by city and region.

That is where the safest-city rankings come in. They let you cut through the noise and ask a better question: if crime is trending down in some places and up in others, which communities are actually doing the best job at keeping residents safe?

How this ranking works

For this article, “safest cities in California” is not based on vibes, real-estate marketing, or anecdotal Reddit threads. It comes from hard crime data.

The primary ranking is the 2025 “California’s Safest Cities” report from SafeWise. SafeWise analyzes FBI crime data and California Department of Justice statistics, then calculates violent and property crime rates per 1,000 residents for 153 cities that met their reporting and population criteria. SafeWise+1

Key points from the SafeWise methodology:

• Rankings are based strictly on reported violent and property crime rates per 1,000 residents.

• Only cities with complete FBI crime reporting and above a population threshold are included.

• In the 2025 list, every “safest city” reported fewer than 2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 people. SafeWise

To cross-check reasonableness, you can compare those top cities with other independent analyses such as MovingWaldo’s Top 6 Safest Cities in California with the Best Quality of Life, which also uses 2022 FBI crime data and Census population figures. MovingWaldo Their list heavily overlaps with SafeWise, which is a good sign that the safest-city picture is consistent across data sources.

Statewide context comes from the Crime Trends in California fact sheet by the Public Policy Institute of California, which adjusts DOJ and FBI data to account for under- and over-reporting in some agencies, and from the California DOJ’s Crime in California 2023 report. Public Policy Institute of California+1

With that foundation, here are the ten safest cities in California in 2025 and what actually makes them feel safe on the ground.

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The 10 safest cities in California in 2025

1. Rancho Santa Margarita

According to SafeWise’s 2025 report, Rancho Santa Margarita is the safest city in California for the second year running. SafeWise+1

• Violent crime rate: 0.5 per 1,000 residents in 2025

• Property crime rate: 4.3 per 1,000 residents

• Population: about 46,000

The city reported zero murders and zero rapes in the most recent data, which is rare even among safe suburbs. SafeWise A planned community layout, strong homeowners’ associations, and consistent community policing all contribute to the low numbers. For families, it feels more like a village wrapped around Lake Santa Margarita than a typical Southern California suburb.

2. Danville

Danville in Contra Costa County enters the SafeWise list as a new entry at number two. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 0.8 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 7.4 per 1,000

• Population: about 42,000

Despite being within commuting distance of the Bay Area, Danville maintains a small-town feel, with upscale housing, strong local schools, and a focus on parks and recreation. Low crime is part of the value proposition, so both residents and local government are motivated to keep it that way.

3. Aliso Viejo

Aliso Viejo in Orange County maintains a top-tier safety profile and lands at number three. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.1 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 7.1 per 1,000

• Population: around 50,700

Like Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo reported zero murders and zero rapes in the most recent period. SafeWise The city blends master-planned neighborhoods with business parks and shopping centers, supported by an engaged city government and a very active sheriffs department presence.

4. Lincoln

Lincoln in Placer County is one of the few safest cities located outside coastal Southern California. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.2 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 7.0 per 1,000

• Population: about 54,000

Lincoln has managed to grow as a Sacramento-area suburb while actually reducing both violent and property crime over the past year. SafeWise notes that its violent crime rate dropped from 1.7 to 1.2 and property crime from 9.0 to 7.0 crimes per 1,000, which is unusual in a fast-growing city. SafeWise

5. Yorba Linda

Yorba Linda remains one of the safest and wealthiest cities in Orange County. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 0.4 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 11.5 per 1,000

• Population: about 66,000

Extremely low violent crime is the main driver here. Yorba Linda also reported zero murders and zero rapes in the SafeWise analysis, and its property crime rate, while higher than some peers, is still far below state averages. SafeWise+1

6. Calexico

Calexico on the Mexican border is one of the more surprising names on the list, entering as a new city at number six. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.1 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 8.2 per 1,000

• Population: about 38,000

Border cities usually get painted with broad crime narratives, but the per-capita data tells a different story here. Calexico’s relatively low rates suggest tight coordination between city police, federal agencies, and community organizations.

7. Laguna Niguel

Laguna Niguel is another master-planned South Orange County city that has turned low crime into part of its brand. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.0 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 9.9 per 1,000

• Population: around 63,500

SafeWise notes that Laguna Niguel also reported zero murders and zero rapes, putting it in the same elite tier as Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, and Yorba Linda. SafeWise For residents, that translates into high perceived safety for evening walks, parks, and shopping centers.

8. Simi Valley

Simi Valley in Ventura County is the first large city on the list, with more than 120,000 residents. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.2 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 9.8 per 1,000

• Population: about 123,000

Maintaining those low rates at that size is difficult. Simi Valley benefits from stable demographics, relatively high incomes, and long-standing investments in community policing and neighborhood watch programs.

9. San Ramon

San Ramon in the East Bay is another big suburban job center that manages to stay very safe. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.4 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 9.4 per 1,000

• Population: roughly 85,600

San Ramon’s economy is driven by corporate campuses and professional services, and the city invests heavily in parks, trails, and family-oriented amenities. That mix of daytime employment and stable residential neighborhoods correlates strongly with lower crime.

10. Lake Forest

Lake Forest rounds out the top 10. SafeWise

• Violent crime rate: 1.3 per 1,000

• Property crime rate: 9.9 per 1,000

• Population: about 85,500

Like its neighbors, Lake Forest combines HOA-regulated communities, commercial centers, and strong law-enforcement partnerships. Even as the city has grown, its crime rates have remained well below state averages.

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Where does this leave the rest of California, including Bakersfield?

The safest cities cluster in a few obvious regions: South Orange County, parts of Ventura County, and select inland suburbs such as Lincoln and San Ramon. That aligns with broader regional trends in the Crime Trends in California analysis, which notes that the lowest violent crime rates are on the southern coast and border counties, while property crime is highest in the Bay Area. Public Policy Institute of California

Kern County, home to Bakersfield and Secure Systems, has a more mixed profile. PPIC’s fact sheet reports that violent crime in Kern increased 13.9 percent from 2022 to 2023 among the state’s 15 largest counties, even as property crime fell 15.8 percent, one of the steepest drops in California. Public Policy Institute of California For residents and businesses, that means theft, burglary, and auto theft are improving, while serious violent incidents still demand attention.

Statewide, the DOJ’s Crime in California 2023 report shows:

• Violent crime rate: 511.0 per 100,000 residents, up 3.3 percent year over year

• Property crime rate: 2,272.7 per 100,000, down 1.8 percent

• Violent crime remains far below its early 1990s peak, but above pre-pandemic levels. OpenJustice Data

In other words, you can live in a “safe” county or city and still have pockets where burglary crews, catalytic-converter thieves, or opportunistic break-ins are active. The top 10 safest cities show what is possible, not a guarantee that crime will never reach your neighborhood.