The Best Home Security Systems in San Luis Obispo, CA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in San Luis Obispo, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed San Luis Obispo, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in San Luis Obispo every 4 hours 3 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. San Luis Obispo experiences 33.22 property crimes per 1000 people and 8.444 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 San Luis Obispo, CA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of San Luis Obispo. The combination of a high amount of renters (56%) and education level (43% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
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.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in San Luis Obispo, CA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in San Luis Obispo, CA
Our analysis gives San Luis Obispo a property crime grade of: D-. San Luis Obispo is in the 87th percentile of safety, meaning 87% of cities in California are safer and 13% are more dangerous. Please visit our San Luis Obispo crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the northwestern part of San Luis Obispo, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 15. Compare this to the southwestern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 71.
D+
C+ |
|
D- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C |
A crime occurs every 2 hours 18 minutes (on average) in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is San Luis Obispo safe? Compared to all of California, San Luis Obispo is rated as safe as the average California city, which has a property crime rate of 37.66 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where San Luis Obispo, with its burglary rate of 13.56 per 1000, is as safe as the average California city.
In addition, San Luis Obispo is higher than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in San Luis Obispo, CA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
15.56 |
1,012 |
19.5 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.737 |
243 |
4.7 |
Burglary |
13.56 |
882 |
17.0 |
Arson |
0.3655 |
24 |
0.5 |
Weather and Climate in San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo, CA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in San Luis Obispo, CA is 57.40 degrees, reaching 83.44 degrees in the hottest months like September & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 77.55 degrees in September.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in San Luis Obispo was built in 1978, 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 San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo, CA gets an average rainfall of 0.3" per year. This is higher than the average of 0.2" for California.
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 San Luis Obispo, CA
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in San Luis Obispo is 45 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 San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo, CA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your San Luis Obispo 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 55.73% (36,322) of people in San Luis Obispo, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 44.27% or 28,848 of San Luis Obispo 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 69% of people who commute an average of 19 minutes to work in or around San Luis Obispo, 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 8% of San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $67,730 annually. In addition, 43.1% 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 San Luis Obispo is $702,241. 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 San Luis Obispo, CA
There are 38 police stations within the boundaries of San Luis Obispo, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the San Luis Obispo center, there are 29 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in San Luis Obispo may be slower. When response times can be improved, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Sheriffs Civil Enforcement 995 Palm St San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 781-5484 |
County Of San Luis Obispo 1055 Monterey St San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 |
San Luis Obispo Police Department 1042 Walnut St San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 781-7317 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near San Luis Obispo, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than San Luis Obispo, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avila Beach, CA | D+ | C+ | more safe |
| Shell Beach, CA | D- | D | about as safe |
| Pismo Beach, CA | D | D- | more safe |
| Los Osos, CA | A- | A- | more safe |
| Grover Beach, CA | A- | F | more safe |
| Halcyon, CA | D | D | more safe |
| Santa Margarita, CA | C- | B- | more safe |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | A | D+ | more safe |
| Morro Bay, CA | B | B+ | more safe |
| Oceano, CA | A- | D+ | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to San Luis Obispo, CA
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than San Luis Obispo, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine, MN | D+ | C- | more safe |
| Brentwood, CA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Casa Grande, AZ | B- | B- | more safe |
| Gilroy, CA | B | A- | more safe |
| Hickory, NC | D+ | C- | more safe |
| North Little Rock, AR | D+ | C- | more safe |
| Wyoming, MI | C | C+ | more safe |
| North Miami, FL | C- | D+ | more safe |
| North Richland Hills, TX | B | B+ | more safe |
| Northglenn, CO | C | B | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in San Luis Obispo, CA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo 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, Ring, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 4 hours 3 minutes in San Luis Obispo.
- The city experiences 33.22 property crimes and 8.444 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- San Luis Obispo's property crime grade stands at an 'D-', comparably as safe as other California {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of San Luis Obispo. The combination of a high amount of renters (56%) and education level (43% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- 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.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 83.44 degrees in the peak months of September & August.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.3" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 45 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 55.73% of San Luis Obispo residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 69% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering San Luis Obispo's lower household median income of $67,730 and 43.1% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- San Luis Obispo hosts 38 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.