The Best Home Security Systems in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Westside, Santa Cruz, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Westside every 17 hours 31 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Westside experiences 26.39 property crimes per 1000 people and 8.121 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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Westside. The combination of a high amount of renters (63%) and education level (56% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
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.
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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Westside, Santa Cruz, 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 neighborhood rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Westside, Santa Cruz, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Our analysis gives Westside a property crime grade of: D. Westside is in the 81st percentile of safety, meaning 81% of cities in Santa Cruz are safer and 19% are more dangerous. Please visit our Westside crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the northern part of Westside, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 18. Compare this to the western part of the neighborhood, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 155.
C-
D+ |
|
D |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C+ |
A crime occurs every 9 hours 10 minutes (on average) in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Westside safe? Compared to all of Santa Cruz, Westside is rated as safe as the average Santa Cruz neighborhood, which has a property crime rate of 17.16 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Westside, with its burglary rate of 9.116 per 1000, is as safe as the average Santa Cruz neighborhood.
In addition, Westside is lower than other neighborhoods with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
14.06 |
266 |
5.1 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.777 |
53 |
1.0 |
Burglary |
9.116 |
173 |
3.3 |
Arson |
0.4319 |
8 |
0.2 |
Weather and Climate in Westside, Santa Cruz, 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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Westside was built in 1975, which is newer than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Santa Cruz build in 1974.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and older homes in Westside, 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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Westside, Santa Cruz, CA gets an average rainfall of 0.7" per year. This is similar to the average of 0.7" for Santa Cruz.
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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Westside is 48 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Santa Cruz home that's 49 years old and less 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 Westside 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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Westside 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 62.57% (12,027) of people in Westside, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 37.43% or 7,195 of Westside 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 44% of people who commute an average of 29 minutes to work in or around Westside, 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 9% of Westside 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 Westside tend to have a lower median household income than nearby neighborhoods, earning $102,034 annually. In addition, 55.8% 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 Westside is $942,384. Compared to the median home value in Santa Cruz of $876,359, 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 Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
There are 0 police stations within the boundaries of Westside, and 13 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Westside center, there are 183 police stations. Compared to other neighborhoods, police response times in Westside 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.
| University Of California Santa Cruz 1156 High St Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 502-7377 |
University Of California Santa Cruz 1156 High St Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 502-7377 |
County Of Santa Cruz 259 Water St Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 454-2420 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Neighborhoods Near Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Nearby Neighborhood | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Westside, Santa Cruz, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA | C | B- | more safe |
| Live Oak, Santa Cruz, CA | B | A- | more safe |
| Almaden Valley, San Jose, CA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Cambrian Park, San Jose, CA | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Blossom Valley, San Jose, CA | D+ | B | about as safe |
| Santa Teresa, San Jose, CA | D+ | A- | more safe |
| West San Jose, San Jose, CA | A- | A | more safe |
| Rancho Rinconada, Cupertino, CA | A- | A- | more safe |
| Willow Glen, San Jose, CA | B+ | A | more safe |
| Loma Linda, San Jose, CA | B | A+ | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Neighborhoods Similar to Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Nearby Neighborhood | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Westside, Santa Cruz, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham, Chicago, IL | D- | F | about as safe |
| East Arlington, Jacksonville, FL | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Eads-Fisherville, Cordova, TN | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Drnag, San Bernardino, CA | C- | D- | more safe |
| East Garfield Park, Chicago, IL | D | F | about as safe |
| Alden Bridge, The Woodlands, TX | A+ | A | more safe |
| Cully, Portland, OR | D+ | D | about as safe |
| Villa Carolina, Carolina, PR | B+ | B- | more safe |
| Whiskey Point, Chicago, IL | D- | F | about as safe |
| City Heights West, San Diego, CA | D | D | about as safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Westside, Santa Cruz, CA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the neighborhood 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 Westside 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, Vivint, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Westside 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 Westside's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 17 hours 31 minutes in Westside.
- The neighborhood experiences 26.39 property crimes and 8.121 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Westside's property crime grade stands at an 'D', comparably as safe as other Santa Cruz {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Westside. The combination of a high amount of renters (63%) and education level (56% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top 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.
- 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
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.7" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 48 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 62.57% of Westside residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 44% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Westside's lower household median income of $102,034 and 55.8% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Westside hosts 0 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.