The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in East Palo Alto, CA: Crime Maps and Statistics

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	D
Property Crime Grade	D+
Other Crime Grade	B-

Which crimes are included?

$18.3 million

Cost of Crime™ for East Palo Alto, CA

In 2025, crime will cost $2,198 per household.

More cost data

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

Is East Palo Alto, CA Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. East Palo Alto ranks in the 35th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 35% of cities but less safe than 65%. This analysis applies only to East Palo Alto's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in East Palo Alto is 29.57 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. East Palo Alto Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in East Palo Alto varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 24 in the central neighborhoods to 1 in 56 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of East Palo Alto, CA see the most incidents - about 236 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 21 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in East Palo Alto, CA

The total projected cost of crime in East Palo Alto for 2025 is $18,283,415. This translates to approximately $576 per resident and $2,198 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.4% of the median household income in East Palo Alto. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 49.9%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 38.4%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.7%

How Much Does Crime Cost in East Palo Alto Compared to Other Cities?

East Palo Alto, CA:	$576
Lodi, CA:	$1387
Rescue, CA:	$213
California:	$491
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in East Palo Alto is $576 per year, which is $112 more than the national average and $85 more than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to East Palo Alto:

In Lodi, CA, crime costs $1,387 per person, which is $811 more than in East Palo Alto.
In Rescue, CA, crime costs $213 per person, which is $363 less than in East Palo Alto

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to East Palo Alto	Cost per East Palo Alto Resident
Murder	$6.42 million	$202
Rape/Sexual Assault	$1.02 million	$32
Robbery	$1.50 million	$47
Assault	$2.80 million	$88
Kidnapping	$373,139	$12
Vehicle Theft	$1.87 million	$59
Burglary	$875,615	$28
Theft	$1.77 million	$56
Arson	$169,104	$5
Vandalism	$374,702	$12
Animal Cruelty	$4,247	$0
Drug Crimes	$1.04 million	$33
Identity Theft	$65,624	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$18,283,415	$576

The Intangible Cost of Crime in East 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 East Palo Alto totals $48,965,424 ($1,542 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $67,248,838 ($2,118 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 East Palo Alto 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 southeast 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 have the same problem. Of East Palo Alto’s 31,750 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 East Palo Alto, CA at ISP Reports.

East Palo Alto 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 East Palo Alto residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.075
Robbery	1.499
Rape	0.5287
Murder	0.1077
Total Violent Crime	5.210 (D)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	10.74
Vehicle Theft	3.813
Burglary	3.041
Arson	0.2206
Total Property Crime	17.81 (D+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1938
Drug Crimes	4.420
Vandalism	1.652
Identity Theft	0.2670
Animal Cruelty	0.0181
Total "Other" Rate	6.551 (B-)

Individual East Palo Alto Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Menlo Park, CA	C-	D+	D+
Palo Alto, CA	D-	D+	F
Stanford, CA	D-	C-	F
Atherton, CA	D	D	D-
North Fair Oaks, CA	D+	D	D+
Redwood City, CA	C-	D+	D+
Mountain View, CA	D	C	D-
Los Altos Hills, CA	B	C+	C
Woodside, CA	C+	D+	C-
Portola Valley, CA	B-	D+	C+

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

East Palo Alto is similar 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
Longwood, FL	B+	B+	B+
Scaggsville, MD	C	B	B
San Ysidro, CA	D-	D-	D-
Salem, NH	C+	A	A
Ruston, LA	D	D	D
Oceanside, NY	B-	C	C
Oakdale, CA	C	D	D
O'Fallon, IL	A	A	A
McMinnville, TN	D	D	D
Maumee, OH	C+	A-	A-

Considering only the crime rate, East Palo Alto is as safe as the California state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in East Palo Alto, CA average SchoolGrade of A+, with 66% actual proficiency versus 45% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See East Palo Alto 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.