Santa Barbara, CA Violent Crime Rates and Maps

Crime Grade's violent crime map highlights the safest areas in Santa Barbara 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.

The D- grade indicates that the rate of violent crime is much higher than that of the average US city. Santa Barbara ranks in the 12th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 12% of cities but less safe than 88%. This analysis applies only to Santa Barbara's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The violent crime rate in Santa Barbara is 6.149 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Santa Barbara residents generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest.Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Santa Barbara varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 99 in the southeast neighborhoods to 1 in 334 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Santa Barbara, CA see the most incidents - about 198 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 7 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Santa Barbara, CA

The total projected cost of crime in Santa Barbara for 2025 is $31,870,048. This translates to approximately $262 per resident and $666 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.4% of the median household income in Santa Barbara. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 46.1%
2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 40.0%
3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 13.7%

The Cost of Crime per resident in Santa Barbara is $262 per year, which is $4 more than the national average and $2 less than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Santa Barbara:

• In French Camp, CA, crime costs $748 per person, which is $486 more than in Santa Barbara.
• In Plumas Lake, CA, crime costs $105 per person, which is $157 less than in Santa Barbara

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Santa Barbara	Cost per Santa Barbara Resident
Murder	$8.06 million	$66
Rape/Sexual Assault	$3.92 million	$32
Robbery	$4.40 million	$36
Assault	$15.5 million	$127
Total Cost of Violent Crime	$31,870,048	$262

The Intangible Cost of Violent Crime in Santa Barbara, 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 totals $78,746,104 ($647 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $110,616,151 ($909 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 Violent Crime Maps

When interpreting the Santa Barbara violent crime map, keep in mind that violent 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 violent 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 Barbara has 46, have the same problem. Of Santa Barbara’s 121,691 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, CA at ISP Reports.

Santa Barbara Crime Breakdown

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

Santa Barbara Violent Crime Breakdown

The table below shows which violent crimes are used to calculate the Violent Crime Grade above. All violent crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Santa Barbara residents in a standard year.

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	4.434
Robbery	1.149
Rape	0.5306
Murder	0.0352
Total Violent Crime	6.149 (D-)

Individual Santa Barbara Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of violent crime in Santa Barbara is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Santa Barbara.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Montecito, CA	D	D	D-
Isla Vista, CA	C+	D	C-
Goleta, CA	C-	D+	D
Summerland, CA	C	D-	D+
Ellwood, CA	C	C	D+
Toro Canyon, CA	C-	D-	D
Carpinteria, CA	C	D	D+
Meiners Oaks, CA	D	D-	D-
Oak View, CA	C-	D	D+
Mira Monte, CA	C	D	D

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Santa Barbara is higher versus other cities of the same size for violent 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
Baton Rouge, LA	D	D-	D-
Baytown, TX	C-	D+	D+
Atascocita, TX	C-	C-	C-
Auburn, AL	C	C+	C+
Aurora, CO	D-	D	D
Alhambra, CA	C-	D+	D+
Apple Valley, CA	C-	D+	D+
Anchorage, AK	D+	F	F
Antioch, CA	C-	D+	D+
Bayamon, PR	D-	D-	D-

Considering only the violent crime rate, Santa Barbara is less safe than the California state average and less safe than the national average.

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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.