The Best Home Security Systems in Foster City, CA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Foster City, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Foster City, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Foster City every 22 hours 12 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Foster City experiences 11.39 property crimes per 1000 people and 2.313 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Foster City, CA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Foster City. The combination of a high amount of renters (48%) and education level (72% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Foster City, CA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Foster City, CA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Foster City, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Foster City, CA
Our analysis gives Foster City a property crime grade of: B+. Foster City is in the 26th percentile of safety, meaning 26% of cities in California are safer and 74% are more dangerous. Please visit our Foster City crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the northwestern part of Foster City, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 29. Compare this to the southeastern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 136.
A+
A+ |
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B+ |
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Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
A crime occurs every 12 hours 7 minutes (on average) in Foster City, CA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Foster City safe? Compared to all of California, Foster City is rated safer than the average California city, which has a property crime rate of 37.66 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Foster City, with its burglary rate of 2.649 per 1000, is as safe as the average California city.
In addition, Foster City is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Foster City, CA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Foster City, CA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
5.586 |
193 |
3.7 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.808 |
97 |
1.9 |
Burglary |
2.649 |
92 |
1.8 |
Arson |
0.3464 |
12 |
0.2 |
Weather and Climate in Foster City, CA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Foster City, CA
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Foster City was built in 1977, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in California build in 1977.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and average home ages in Foster City, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Foster City, CA
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Foster City, CA
Foster City, CA reaches an average of 55.85 degrees in its cold months of December & January. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 57.11 degrees in December.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Foster City is 46 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average California home that's 46 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Foster City home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Foster City, CA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Foster City home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 47.97% (16,339) of people in Foster City, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 52.03% or 17,721 of Foster City residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 64% of people who commute an average of 40 minutes to work in or around Foster City, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 34% of Foster City residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Foster City tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $163,797 annually. In addition, 72.3% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Foster City is $1,380,998. Compared to the median home value in California of $648,235, your home value will probably be higher. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Foster City, CA
There are 0 police stations within the boundaries of Foster City, and 8 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Foster City center, there are 445 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Foster City may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| County Of San Mateo 3130 La Selva St # 301 San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 573-3991 |
San Mateo Police Department 200 Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 522-7710 |
City Of San Mateo 2000 South Delaware St San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 522-7710 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Foster City, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Foster City, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | B+ | A+ | about as safe |
| Belmont, CA | A | A+ | more safe |
| San Carlos, CA | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Highlands-Baywood Park, CA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Hillsborough, CA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Redwood City, CA | A- | A+ | about as safe |
| Burlingame, CA | A- | A- | about as safe |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | C | A- | less safe |
| Atherton, CA | A | A+ | more safe |
| Menlo Park, CA | F | F | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Foster City, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Foster City, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambler, PA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| American Fork, UT | A | A- | more safe |
| Williston, ND | F | D- | less safe |
| Bell, CA | D | D- | less safe |
| Bethel Park, PA | C- | B+ | less safe |
| North Olmsted, OH | A | A | more safe |
| Boardman, OH | C | B- | less safe |
| Boone, NC | F | D- | less safe |
| Bowling Green, OH | D- | D- | less safe |
| Burlington, NJ | D | D+ | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Foster City, CA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Foster City, CA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Foster City residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, ADT, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Foster City residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Foster City's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 22 hours 12 minutes in Foster City.
- The city experiences 11.39 property crimes and 2.313 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Foster City's property crime grade stands at an 'B+', comparably safer than other California {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Foster City. The combination of a high amount of renters (48%) and education level (72% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with December & January temperatures averaging 55.85 degrees.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 47.97% of Foster City residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 64% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Foster City's lower household median income of $163,797 and 72.3% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Foster City hosts 0 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.