Crime per Capita in Santa Cruz County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Santa Cruz County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C+
Overall Crime Grade™
D+ |
|
D+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A |
$129.3 million
Cost of Crime™ for Santa Cruz County, CA
In 2025, crime will cost $1,305 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County, CA Safe?
The C+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US county. Santa Cruz County ranks in the 47th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 47% of counties but less safe than 53%. This analysis applies only to Santa Cruz County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Santa Cruz County is 31.54 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Santa Cruz County Residents generally consider the north part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Santa Cruz County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 27 in the southwest areas to 1 in 38 in the north.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Santa Cruz County, CA see the most incidents - about 2,514 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 154 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Santa Cruz County, CA
The total projected cost of crime in Santa Cruz County for 2025 is $129,268,233. This translates to approximately $476 per resident and $1,305 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.9% of the median household income in Santa Cruz County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 54.2%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.4%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.3%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Santa Cruz County Compared to Other Counties?
| Santa Cruz County, CA: | $476 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco County, CA: | $1016 |
| Placer County, CA: | $320 |
| California: | $491 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Santa Cruz County is $476 per year, which is $12 more than the national average and $15 less than California's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Santa Cruz County:
- In San Francisco County, CA, crime costs $1,016 per person, which is $540 more than in Santa Cruz County.
- In Placer County, CA, crime costs $320 per person, which is $156 less than in Santa Cruz County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Santa Cruz County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Santa Cruz County |
Cost per Santa Cruz County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$27.2 million |
$100 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$8.92 million |
$33 |
Robbery |
$10.9 million |
$40 |
Assault |
$24.3 million |
$89 |
Kidnapping |
$2.41 million |
$9 |
Vehicle Theft |
$14.9 million |
$55 |
Burglary |
$10.2 million |
$38 |
Theft |
$19.2 million |
$71 |
Arson |
$1.75 million |
$6 |
Vandalism |
$4.04 million |
$15 |
Animal Cruelty |
$35,890 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$4.74 million |
$17 |
Identity Theft |
$803,876 |
$3 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$129,268,233 |
$476 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County totals $235,321,971 ($867 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $364,590,204 ($1,343 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 Cruz 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 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 Cruz County has 47, have the same problem. Of Santa Cruz County’s 271,517 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 Cruz County, CA at ISP Reports.Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
3.112 |
Robbery |
1.274 |
Rape |
0.5418 |
Murder |
0.0533 |
Total Violent Crime |
4.981 (D+) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
13.63 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.543 |
Burglary |
4.140 |
Arson |
0.2662 |
Total Property Crime |
21.58 (D+) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1466 |
Drug Crimes |
2.358 |
Vandalism |
2.080 |
Identity Theft |
0.3825 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0179 |
Total "Other" Rate |
4.986 (A) |
Individual Santa Cruz County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Santa Cruz County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Santa Cruz County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
B+ | C+ | C+ | |
B | D+ | C+ | |
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
C+ | D+ | D+ | |
B- | C- | C- | |
C- | D | D | |
C- | F | D+ | |
C | D+ | C | |
C | A | B | |
D+ | C- | C |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Santa Cruz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
D- | D+ | D+ | |
B | A | A | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
C- | B+ | B+ | |
F | B- | B- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
B- | B+ | B+ | |
D+ | D+ | D+ | |
C- | C+ | C+ | |
D- | C+ | C+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County, CA average SchoolGrade of B-, with 42% actual proficiency versus 42% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Santa Cruz 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.
Crime By Zip Code Download
Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.
Download CSV
Home Security
A crime occurs on average every 1 hour 1 minute in Santa Cruz County. Want to protect your home?
Home Security Companies in Santa Cruz County, CA
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.