The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Big Sur, CA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	F
Property Crime Grade	D-
Other Crime Grade	A

Which crimes are included?

$489,865

Cost of Crime™ for Big Sur, CA

In 2025, crime will cost $1,653 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Big Sur 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.

Is Big Sur, CA Safe?

The D grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Big Sur ranks in the 16th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 16% of cities but less safe than 84%. This analysis applies only to Big Sur's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Big Sur is 41.19 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Big Sur Residents generally consider the west part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Big Sur varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 24 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 25 in the west.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Big Sur, CA see the most incidents - about 14 per year. In contrast, the east part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Big Sur, CA

The total projected cost of crime in Big Sur for 2025 is $489,865. This translates to approximately $697 per resident and $1,653 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.6% of the median household income in Big Sur. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.0%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.0%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Big Sur Compared to Other Cities?

Big Sur, CA:	$697
Lodi, CA:	$1387
Rescue, CA:	$213
California:	$491
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Big Sur is $697 per year, which is $233 more than the national average and $206 more than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Big Sur:

In Lodi, CA, crime costs $1,387 per person, which is $690 more than in Big Sur.
In Rescue, CA, crime costs $213 per person, which is $484 less than in Big Sur

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Big Sur for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Big Sur	Cost per Big Sur Resident
Murder	$138,866	$198
Rape/Sexual Assault	$23,942	$34
Robbery	$53,162	$76
Assault	$106,057	$151
Kidnapping	$14,274	$20
Vehicle Theft	$14,214	$20
Burglary	$38,990	$55
Theft	$77,991	$111
Arson	$4,939	$7
Vandalism	$12,127	$17
Animal Cruelty	$14	$0
Drug Crimes	$1,571	$2
Identity Theft	$3,718	$5
Total Cost of Crime	$489,865	$697

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Big Sur, 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 Big Sur totals $1,092,440 ($1,554 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,582,304 ($2,251 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 Crime Maps

When interpreting the Big Sur crime map, keep in mind that 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 central part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate 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 Big Sur has 1, have the same problem. Of Big Sur’s 703 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 Big Sur, CA at ISP Reports.

Big Sur Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Big Sur residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	5.253
Robbery	2.404
Rape	0.5617
Murder	0.1051
Total Violent Crime	8.324 (F)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	21.42
Vehicle Theft	1.306
Burglary	6.115
Arson	0.2909
Total Property Crime	29.13 (D-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.3349
Drug Crimes	0.3022
Vandalism	2.415
Identity Theft	0.6833
Animal Cruelty	0.0027
Total "Other" Rate	3.738 (A)

Individual Big Sur Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Big Sur is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Big Sur.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Posts, CA	D	F	D-
Jamesburg, CA	D+	D	D
Greenfield, CA	B	D+	C+
Metz, CA	C	D-	D+
King City, CA	C+	D-	C-
San Lucas, CA	C-	F	C-
Lonoak, CA	D	F	D-
Coalinga, CA	D-	D-	D-
Turk, CA	D-	D	F
Five Points, CA	F	F	F

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Big Sur is higher versus other cities of the same size for 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
Lynx, OH	C+	B-	B-
Eula, TX	C+	C+	C+
Farber, MO	D-	D	D
Malone, TX	D+	D-	D-
Malo, WA	D+	D+	D+
Steedman, MO	C-	D+	D+
Makaha, HI	B	B+	B+
Flagg Center, IL	A+	A	A
Staunton, OH	A	A-	A-
Foster, OR	D+	C+	C+

Considering only the crime rate, Big Sur is less safe than the California state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Big Sur, CA average SchoolGrade of B+, with 52% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Big Sur schools on SchoolGrade

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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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.