Crime per Capita in Santa Barbara County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Santa Barbara County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C+
Overall Crime Grade™
D |
|
D+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A |
$227.0 million
Cost of Crime™ for Santa Barbara County, CA
In 2025, crime will cost $1,509 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Santa Barbara County 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 Santa Barbara County, CA Safe?
The C+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US county. Santa Barbara County ranks in the 48th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 48% of counties but less safe than 52%. This analysis applies only to Santa Barbara County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Santa Barbara County is 31.20 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Santa Barbara County Residents generally consider the east part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Barbara County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 21 in the southwest areas to 1 in 44 in the east.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Santa Barbara County, CA see the most incidents - about 5,792 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Santa Barbara County, CA
The total projected cost of crime in Santa Barbara County for 2025 is $227,016,070. This translates to approximately $497 per resident and $1,509 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.1% of the median household income in Santa Barbara County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.2%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.3%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.4%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Santa Barbara County Compared to Other Counties?
| Santa Barbara County, CA: | $497 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco County, CA: | $1016 |
| Placer County, CA: | $320 |
| California: | $491 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Santa Barbara County is $497 per year, which is $32 more than the national average and $6 more than California's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Santa Barbara County:
- In San Francisco County, CA, crime costs $1,016 per person, which is $520 more than in Santa Barbara County.
- In Placer County, CA, crime costs $320 per person, which is $177 less than in Santa Barbara County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Santa Barbara County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Santa Barbara County |
Cost per Santa Barbara County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$51.0 million |
$111 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$13.7 million |
$30 |
Robbery |
$19.1 million |
$42 |
Assault |
$45.7 million |
$100 |
Kidnapping |
$6.31 million |
$14 |
Vehicle Theft |
$25.9 million |
$57 |
Burglary |
$16.5 million |
$36 |
Theft |
$31.4 million |
$69 |
Arson |
$2.58 million |
$6 |
Vandalism |
$7.74 million |
$17 |
Animal Cruelty |
$71,159 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$5.75 million |
$13 |
Identity Theft |
$1.25 million |
$3 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$227,016,070 |
$497 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Santa Barbara County, 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 Santa Barbara County totals $426,054,001 ($932 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $653,070,071 ($1,429 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 Santa Barbara County 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 county 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, of which Santa Barbara County has 1, 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 Santa Barbara County has 110, have the same problem. Of Santa Barbara County’s 457,083 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 Santa Barbara County, CA at ISP Reports.Santa Barbara County 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 Santa Barbara County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
3.479 |
Robbery |
1.331 |
Rape |
0.4946 |
Murder |
0.0593 |
Total Violent Crime |
5.364 (D) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
13.28 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.653 |
Burglary |
3.991 |
Arson |
0.2340 |
Total Property Crime |
21.16 (D+) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.2276 |
Drug Crimes |
1.699 |
Vandalism |
2.369 |
Identity Theft |
0.3543 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0210 |
Total "Other" Rate |
4.672 (A) |
Individual Santa Barbara County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Santa Barbara County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Santa Barbara County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
B- | C | C- | |
C | C- | D+ | |
B+ | C+ | B+ | |
A | B- | A- | |
C- | D- | D+ | |
F | F | F | |
F | F | D- | |
C | C- | C+ | |
F | F | D- | |
D | D | D |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Santa Barbara County is higher versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A- | A- | A- | |
B | D+ | D+ | |
B+ | A | A | |
B- | B+ | B+ | |
D- | F | F | |
D | C | C | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A- | B | B | |
B | B+ | B+ | |
A | B | B |
Considering only the crime rate, Santa Barbara County 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 Santa Barbara County, CA average SchoolGrade of C-, with 33% actual proficiency versus 37% projected; overall, schools don't meet expectations. See Santa Barbara County schools on SchoolGrade
About the Data
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