Santa Cruz, CA Violent Crime Rates and Maps

Crime Grade's violent crime map highlights the safest areas in Santa Cruz 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 higher than that of the average US city. Santa Cruz ranks in the 18th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 18% of cities but less safe than 82%. This analysis applies only to Santa Cruz's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The violent crime rate in Santa Cruz is 5.166 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Santa Cruz residents generally consider the west part of the city to be the safest.Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Santa Cruz varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 166 in the central neighborhoods to 1 in 307 in the west.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Santa Cruz, CA see the most incidents - about 104 per year. In contrast, the west part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 24 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Santa Cruz, CA

The total projected cost of crime in Santa Cruz for 2025 is $26,042,541. This translates to approximately $266 per resident and $653 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.5% of the median household income in Santa Cruz. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 45.2%
2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 40.6%
3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 14.1%

The Cost of Crime per resident in Santa Cruz is $266 per year, which is $8 more than the national average and $2 more than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Santa Cruz:

• In French Camp, CA, crime costs $748 per person, which is $482 more than in Santa Cruz.
• In Plumas Lake, CA, crime costs $105 per person, which is $161 less than in Santa Cruz

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Santa Cruz	Cost per Santa Cruz Resident
Murder	$9.54 million	$97
Rape/Sexual Assault	$3.32 million	$34
Robbery	$4.27 million	$44
Assault	$8.91 million	$91
Total Cost of Violent Crime	$26,042,541	$266

The Intangible Cost of Violent Crime in Santa Cruz, 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 totals $83,890,943 ($857 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $109,933,484 ($1,122 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 Cruz 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 central 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 Cruz has 23, have the same problem. Of Santa Cruz’s 97,938 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, CA at ISP Reports.

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz residents in a standard year.

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz residents in a standard year.

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.169
Robbery	1.387
Rape	0.5591
Murder	0.0518
Total Violent Crime	5.166 (D)

Individual Santa Cruz Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Capitola, CA	D	D-	D-
Soquel, CA	C-	D+	D
Scotts Valley, CA	C	D+	D+
Mount Hermon, CA	D+	D+	D-
Felton, CA	C	C-	D
Aptos, CA	C-	D+	D
Rio del Mar, CA	C+	C	C-
Ben Lomond, CA	C	D+	D+
La Selva Beach, CA	C-	D+	D+
Corralitos, CA	D-	F	F

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Santa Cruz 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
Yonkers, NY	C+	D+	D+
York, PA	B	B-	B-
Yorba Linda, CA	B+	C+	C+
Weston, FL	A+	A	A
Williamsburg, VA	C	B+	B+
Winston-Salem, NC	D	D+	D+
Wilmington, DE	F	D	D
West Jordan, UT	C	B+	B+
West Covina, CA	C	C	C
Whittier, CA	C	D+	D+

Considering only the violent crime rate, Santa Cruz is as safe as 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.