Crime per Capita in Santa Clara County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Santa Clara County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
B+
Overall Crime Grade™
C+ |
|
C+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
$628.7 million
Cost of Crime™ for Santa Clara County, CA
In 2025, crime will cost $953 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Santa Clara 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 Clara County, CA Safe?
The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Santa Clara County ranks in the 75th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 75% of counties but less safe than 25%. This analysis applies only to Santa Clara County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Santa Clara County is 22.56 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Santa Clara County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Clara County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 33 in the northwest areas to 1 in 59 in the northeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northwest parts of Santa Clara County, CA see the most incidents - about 10,370 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 1,047 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Santa Clara County, CA
The total projected cost of crime in Santa Clara County for 2025 is $628,679,966. This translates to approximately $321 per resident and $953 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.4% of the median household income in Santa Clara County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 56.3%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.1%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.6%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Santa Clara County Compared to Other Counties?
| Santa Clara County, CA: | $321 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco County, CA: | $1016 |
| Placer County, CA: | $320 |
| California: | $491 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Santa Clara County is $321 per year, which is $144 less than the national average and $170 less than California's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Santa Clara County:
- In San Francisco County, CA, crime costs $1,016 per person, which is $696 more than in Santa Clara County.
- In Placer County, CA, crime costs $320 per person, which is $1 less than in Santa Clara County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Santa Clara County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Santa Clara County |
Cost per Santa Clara County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$75.9 million |
$39 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$64.6 million |
$33 |
Robbery |
$58.3 million |
$30 |
Assault |
$121.7 million |
$62 |
Kidnapping |
$16.7 million |
$9 |
Vehicle Theft |
$89.9 million |
$46 |
Burglary |
$50.9 million |
$26 |
Theft |
$100.4 million |
$51 |
Arson |
$9.54 million |
$5 |
Vandalism |
$18.7 million |
$10 |
Animal Cruelty |
$193,063 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$18.6 million |
$9 |
Identity Theft |
$3.28 million |
$2 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$628,679,966 |
$321 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Santa Clara 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 Clara County totals $878,987,352 ($448 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,507,667,318 ($769 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 Clara 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 central 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 Clara 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 Clara County has 228, have the same problem. Of Santa Clara County’s 1,961,208 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 Clara County, CA at ISP Reports.Santa Clara 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 Clara County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.161 |
Robbery |
0.9454 |
Rape |
0.5429 |
Murder |
0.0206 |
Total Violent Crime |
3.670 (C+) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
9.881 |
Vehicle Theft |
2.960 |
Burglary |
2.863 |
Arson |
0.2014 |
Total Property Crime |
15.91 (C+) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1403 |
Drug Crimes |
1.282 |
Vandalism |
1.334 |
Identity Theft |
0.2161 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0133 |
Total "Other" Rate |
2.986 (A+) |
Individual Santa Clara County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Santa Clara County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Santa Clara County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
C+ | C | D+ | |
F | F | F | |
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
C | D | D+ | |
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
B- | C- | C- | |
B | D- | B- | |
F | F | F |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Santa Clara County is lower 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- | B | B | |
D | D+ | D+ | |
B | C- | C- | |
B- | C- | C- | |
A+ | A- | A- | |
D | C | C | |
A- | A- | A- | |
B+ | C+ | C+ | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
C- | B+ | B+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Santa Clara County is safer than the California state average and safer than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Santa Clara County, CA average SchoolGrade of A-, with 54% actual proficiency versus 50% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Santa Clara County 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.