Are you thinking of moving to Santa Clarita? Before you do, you'll likely want to make sure that it's a safe place for you and your family to live. The good news is Santa Clarita is very safe for one of the most populated cities in southern California.
The city often ranks highly on lists of the safest cities in America, and the Santa Clarita crime rate is much lower than the national and statewide average. Santa Clarita is a good place to live for families and young people who want a vibrant city with low crime and easy access to the LA area.
However, it's crucial to do some research to ensure you find the perfect neighborhood and know which areas to avoid. Here is a closer look at the Santa Clarita crime rate and everything you should know.
Understanding the Santa Clarita Crime Rate - How Crime Rates Are Calculated
Before we dive into the Santa Clarita crime rate and other statistics, it helps to understand how crime rates are calculated and what they mean. Crime rates are based on reports by local law enforcement agencies. Every time a crime is committed, the local police department records the incident and submits the information to the FBI. The FBI then compiles the data and publishes annual reports that can be used to gauge the general safety of an area.
Crime is broken down into two categories: violent crime and property crime. Violent crime refers to attacks against another person, including murder, assault, domestic violence, battery, sexual assault, etc. Property crime refers to the theft or destruction of someone else's property, including robbery, shoplifting, larceny, arson, vandalism, motor vehicle theft, and so on.
Although these reports can be useful for getting a broad overview of the instances of crime in an area, they have limitations. Even the FBI warns people not to use crime stats to compare the safety of one area to another.
Reasons crime stats can be misleading include:
- Different police departments may have different reporting practices or definitions of offenses.
- The data doesn't represent all offenses; for instance, shootings where no one is injured are not counted.
- Crime may be isolated to certain areas or even streets, but the stats reflect the entire city.
- Certain types of crime are highly targeted, such as gang shootings or domestic violence, and therefore not a threat to the average person.
- Crime data only considers offenses reported to police, which is only a fraction of the overall crime.
Crime data needs context to be correctly analyzed and understood. For instance, the crime rate in Santa Clarita increased by 13.6% in 2022. If you had seen that statistic alone, you may have believed that the city was quickly becoming a hotbed for crime. However, the total number of crimes in Santa Clarita is down by 150 compared to 2018, and the city reported its lowest number of crimes ever in 2020.
In reality, the crime rate in Santa Clarita, CA, was merely returning to normal after a particularly peaceful period. It's still a very safe city compared to other cities in California. So, it helps to look more closely at the numbers to determine whether an area is safe or dangerous.
What Is the Santa Clarita Crime Rate?
So now that you understand how crime stats work, is Santa Clarita safe? The Santa Clarita CA crime rate is 1,254 incidents per 100,000 residents. For comparison, the California crime rate is 2,843 crimes per 100,000 residents, and the US crime rate is 2,324 crimes. That makes the overall Santa Clarita crime rate 46% lower than the rest of the US and 77% lower than the rest of California.
In 2022, there were a total of 2,769 crimes in Santa Clarita CA. That gives you a 1 in 80 chance of being the victim of a crime in Santa Clarita, CA.
Here is a look at the Santa Clarita crime rate for violent and property crime compared to the national average:
|
Violent Crime |
Property Crime |
| Crimes per 100k residents |
163 |
1,091 |
| % lower than the state |
101% |
72% |
| % lower than the country |
56% |
44% |
So, overall, the Santa Clarita crime rate is very low compared to the rest of the US and it's one of the safest cities in California.
Here’s how crime in Santa Clarita compares to other California cities:
Santa Clarita Crime Map & Crime Reports
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has an interactive crime map on its website if you want to get a better sense of where crime in Santa Clarita is taking place and what kinds of offenses are occurring.
The tool allows you to search by location and see exactly where offenses are being reported in real time. It even allows you to view the crimes as a list or graph, making it easy to read and interpret Santa Clarita crime statistics.
In addition to the Santa Clarita crime map, the Sheriff's Department also has a database of crime and arrest statistics that you can access online. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has many helpful resources as well if you want to get a more in-depth understanding of the Santa Clarita crime rate.
Violent Crime in Santa Clarita
While all crime can be cause for concern, most people want to know about violent crime. You'll be pleased to know that Santa Clarita has a very low violent crime rate for a city of its size.
The violent crime rate is 163 crimes per 100,000 residents. Compare that to LA, where the rate is 834 incidents per 100,00 residents. That makes Santa Clarita 134% safer than Los Angeles.
Here is a breakdown of the violent crimes in Santa Clarita in 2022:
- Total violent crimes: 447
- Aggravated Assault: 290
- Robbery: 109
- Rape: 47
- Criminal homicide: 1
Santa Clarita murders are sporadic. In 2021, there were four murders in Santa Clarita, while in 2022, there was only one. Your chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Santa Clarita are 1 in 614.
Property Crime in Santa Clarita
Property crime in Santa Clarita is also very low. The property crime rate is 1,091 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 44% below the national average. The property crime rate in Los Angeles is 2,708 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 85% higher than in Santa Clarita.
Here is a breakdown of the property crimes in Santa Clarita in 2022:
- Total: 3,148
- Larceny theft: 2,208
- Grand theft auto: 426
- Burglary: 459
- Arson: 19
The local government is already implementing measures to combat an uptick in property crime. A major issue in the city is people leaving their valuables on their car's dashboard or front seat and not locking the vehicle, resulting in theft. To fight this problem, the city council launched the Lock It or Lose It campaign to remind residents to secure valuables. Your chances of becoming the victim of a property crime in Santa Clarita are 1 in 92. So overall, Santa Clarita is safe.
Bad Areas in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita is not dangerous, so no areas are particularly violent or drug-infested. However, every city has desirable communities and areas that are best avoided. Here are some of the bad areas in Santa Clarita.
Newhall is the southernmost and oldest neighborhood in Santa Clarita, and it's one of the areas most locals will tell you to avoid. While it isn't particularly violent or dangerous, it does have its shadier areas, which contribute to the Santa Clarita crime rate, especially around I-5.
Canyon Country is another Santa Clarita neighborhood with a bad reputation among locals. Located in the eastern part of Santa Clarita, Canyon Country is situated in between the Santa Clarita River and the mountains. Canyon Country is still generally safer than the rest of the country. However, it is more rural and most of the crime in Santa Clarita tends to happen in the Newhall or Canyon Country area.
Mint Canyon is another neighborhood in the area that experiences a slightly higher rate of crime due to neighborhood dynamics. It's home to some low-income housing developments and the Mint Canyon Mobile Manor, a mobile home park off Sierra Highway.
Safest Neighborhoods in Santa Clarita
Although Santa Clarita does have a few rougher areas, it also has no shortage of gorgeous communities offering low crime and a calm environment to raise a family. Overall, Santa Clarita is a nice place to live for a wide range of residents. Here are the best places to live in Santa Clarita.
Valencia | A Safe Master Planned Community with an Attentive HOA
Valencia is a master-planned community in the northwestern part of the city that offers good schools, a strong sense of community, and easy highway access. It's one of the safest neighborhoods in Santa Clarita, with a crime rate of 23.55 incidents per 100,000 residents, making it safer than 87% of communities in the US. The Valencia Homeowners Association monitors crime in the community, and many developments have their own neighborhood watch programs in effect.
Westridge | A Highly Desirable, Gated Community with Fantastic Amenities
Westridge is another highly desirable Santa Clarita neighborhood. The affluent suburban neighborhood features spacious single-family homes, modern multifamily buildings, a private park, and two Recreation centers, making it ideal for well-to-do families. It's also within a gated community, so crime in the area is virtually non-existent.
Saugus | A Quiet, Family-Friendly Santa Clarita Neighborhood with Prime Real Estate
Saugus is also a safe, affluent Santa Clarita neighborhood. The gated community features 90+ homes on one-acre lots with gorgeous views and great schools. It's known for its peaceful, family friendly atmosphere and many parks. The Saugus, Santa Clarita crime rate is 1.68 crimes per 1,000 residents, making it safer than 38% of US neighborhoods.
Santa Clarita Safety Tips - How to Avoid Crime in Santa Clarita
- You can submit a crime tip easily and discretely using the TipSubmit mobile app, which is free to all residents.
- Via Princessa Train Station in Canyon Country tends to attract unfavorable people, so it is best to avoid after dark.
- Follow the Sheriff's Department's official Twitter account for real-time alerts, Santa Clarita crime news, and home and community safety tips.
Santa Clarita Police Department
Home and community safety in Santa Clarita is handled by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, a branch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has over 12,863 employees, including 9,863 officers and 3000 civilians. Captain Justin Diez leads the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.
Crime in Santa Clarita initially fell under the jurisdiction of the Newhall Station. However, the expansion of the Santa Clarita Valley in the late 20th century resulted in the need for a larger facility. So, the Santa Clarita Valley Station opened in 1972.
Anyone can find statistics and other data on Santa Clarita police activity by visiting their official website. You can also stop by their headquarters at 26201 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, or call them directly at (661) 260-4000.
Santa Clarita Crime FAQs
How Safe is Santa Clarita?
Santa Clarita is quite safe. The Santa Clarita crime rate is 101% lower than the rest of California and 56% lower than the rest of the country.
What is the Santa Clarita Murder Rate?
The Santa Clarita murder rate is 1.85 homicides per 100,000 residents. There were four murders in Santa Clarita, CA in 2021 but none in 2022.
Is Santa Clarita Safer Than Los Angeles?
Yes, Santa Clarita is safe compared to Los Angeles. The total crime rate is 95% lower than in Los Angeles, and the violent crime rate is 134% lower.
Ready to relocate to this peaceful Southern California city? Trust the reliable team of Santa Clarita movers at Movegreen to make your upcoming move easy and stress-free. Call (866) 684-7336 today for a free moving quote.
