The Best Home Security Systems in Los Altos, CA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Los Altos, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Los Altos, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Los Altos every 1 day 2 hours, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Los Altos experiences 8.346 property crimes per 1000 people and 3.702 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 Los Altos, CA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Los Altos. The combination of a high amount of renters (25%) and education level (81% 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 Los Altos, CA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Los Altos, CA
Our analysis gives Los Altos a property crime grade of: A+. Los Altos is in the 6th percentile of safety, meaning 6% of cities in California are safer and 94% are more dangerous. Please visit our Los Altos crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the western part of Los Altos, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 78. Compare this to the southern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 155.
A+
B+ |
|
A+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A |
A crime occurs every 10 hours 34 minutes (on average) in Los Altos, CA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Los Altos safe? Compared to all of California, Los Altos 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 Los Altos, with its burglary rate of 2.775 per 1000, is as safe as the average California city.
In addition, Los Altos is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Los Altos, CA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Los Altos, CA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
2.542 |
101 |
1.9 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.671 |
106 |
2.0 |
Burglary |
2.775 |
110 |
2.1 |
Arson |
0.3581 |
14 |
0.3 |
Weather and Climate in Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Los Altos was built in 1966, which is much older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in California build in 1977.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA
Los Altos, CA reaches an average of 57.29 degrees in its cold months of December & January. This temperature has held steady compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 56.43 degrees in December.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Los Altos is 57 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 much more 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 Los Altos 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 Los Altos, CA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Los Altos 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 25.46% (9,757) of people in Los Altos, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 74.54% or 28,571 of Los Altos 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 67% of people who commute an average of 29 minutes to work in or around Los Altos, 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 24% of Los Altos 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 Los Altos tend to have a higher median household income than nearby cities, earning $220,188 annually. In addition, 81.3% 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 Los Altos is $1,954,360. 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 Los Altos, CA
There are 1 police stations within the boundaries of Los Altos, and 7 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Los Altos center, there are 431 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Los Altos may be faster. Even when response times are good, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Foothill-De Anza Community College District Financing Corporation 12345 South El Monte Road Room 21 Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 949-7680 |
Los Altos Police Department 1 North San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 947-2779 |
Mountain View Police Department 1000 Villa St Mountain View, CA 94041 (650) 903-6344 |
Safest Neighborhoods in Los Altos, CA
According to our analysis, here are the safest neighborhoods in Los Altos.Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Los Altos, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Los Altos, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | A- | A- | less safe |
| Los Altos Hills, CA | A+ | A+ | about as safe |
| Sunnyvale, CA | B | B | less safe |
| Cupertino, CA | A | B+ | about as safe |
| Palo Alto, CA | B+ | A | less safe |
| Stanford, CA | D- | D- | less safe |
| Portola Valley, CA | A+ | A+ | about as safe |
| Santa Clara, CA | C- | B- | less safe |
| East Palo Alto, CA | B- | B+ | less safe |
| Menlo Park, CA | F | F | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Los Altos, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Los Altos, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trail, NC | A+ | A+ | about as safe |
| Long Beach, NY | C+ | A- | less safe |
| Linton Hall, VA | D- | D+ | less safe |
| Laurel, MS | C+ | C+ | less safe |
| Lake Wales, FL | D | C | less safe |
| La Quinta, CA | A- | A- | less safe |
| La Puente, CA | D | C | less safe |
| Kearney, NE | C | B- | less safe |
| Jamestown, NY | D- | D | less safe |
| Saratoga Springs, NY | D- | C- | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Los Altos, CA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Los Altos, 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 Los Altos 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 Los Altos 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 Los Altos's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 1 day 2 hours in Los Altos.
- The city experiences 8.346 property crimes and 3.702 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Los Altos's property crime grade stands at an 'A+', 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 Los Altos. The combination of a high amount of renters (25%) and education level (81% 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 57.29 degrees.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 25.46% of Los Altos residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 67% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Los Altos's higher household median income of $220,188 and 81.3% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Los Altos hosts 1 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.