Property Crime per Capita in Palo Alto
The property crime map below shows crimes per 1,000 Palo Alto residents.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
D-
D+ |
|
Property Crime Grade |
F |
Other Crime Grade |
B+ |
$16.0 million
Cost of Crime™ for Palo Alto, CA
In 2025, property crime will cost $609 per household.
Crime Grade's property crime map highlights the safest areas in Palo Alto in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
The F grade indicates that the rate of property crime is much higher than that of the average US city. Palo Alto ranks in the 6th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 6% of cities but less safe than 94%. This analysis applies only to Palo Alto's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The property crime rate in Palo Alto is 34.11 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Palo Alto residents generally consider the east part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in Palo Alto varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 9 in the west neighborhoods to 1 in 73 in the east.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northwest parts of Palo Alto, CA see the most incidents - about 667 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 66 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Palo Alto, CA
The total projected cost of crime in Palo Alto for 2025 is $15,989,284. This translates to approximately $230 per resident and $609 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.2% of the median household income in Palo Alto. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 70.0%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 23.5%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 6.5%
How Much Does Property Crime Cost in Palo Alto Compared to Other Cities?
| Palo Alto, CA: | $230 |
|---|---|
| Lodi, CA: | $686 |
| Rescue, CA: | $65 |
| California: | $183 |
| USA: | $136 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Palo Alto is $230 per year, which is $94 more than the national average and $48 more than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Palo Alto:
- In Lodi, CA, crime costs $686 per person, which is $456 more than in Palo Alto.
- In Rescue, CA, crime costs $65 per person, which is $166 less than in Palo Alto
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Palo Alto for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Palo Alto |
Cost per Palo Alto Resident |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle Theft |
$2.17 million |
$31 |
Burglary |
$4.55 million |
$66 |
Theft |
$8.86 million |
$128 |
Arson |
$412,530 |
$6 |
Total Cost of Property Crime |
$15,989,284 |
$230 |
The Intangible Cost of Property Crime in Palo Alto, CA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Palo Alto totals $0 ($0 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $15,989,284 ($230 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Property Crime Maps
When interpreting the Palo Alto property crime map, keep in mind that property crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the northwest part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate property crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Palo Alto has 16, have the same problem. Of Palo Alto’s 69,439 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Palo Alto, CA at ISP Reports.Palo Alto Property Crime Breakdown
The table below shows which non-violent crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grade above. All property crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Palo Alto residents in a standard year.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
24.62 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.020 |
Burglary |
7.223 |
Arson |
0.2460 |
Total Property Crime |
34.11 (F) |
Individual Palo Alto Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of property crime in Palo Alto is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Palo Alto.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D- | C- | F | |
C- | D | D+ | |
C- | D+ | D+ | |
D | C | D- | |
D | D | D- | |
B | C+ | C | |
C+ | B- | D+ | |
D+ | D | D+ | |
B- | D+ | C+ | |
C- | D+ | D+ |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
Palo Alto is higher versus other cities of the same size for property crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.
Similar City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C- | D+ | D+ | |
D | D- | D- | |
C+ | B- | B- | |
C+ | B- | B- | |
A+ | A | A | |
F | F | F | |
C- | B- | B- | |
B- | C | C | |
D- | D- | D- | |
B | A- | A- |
Considering only the property crime rate, Palo Alto is less safe than the California state average and less safe than the national average.
About the Data
CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.
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