Sacramento Crime Rate: Key Trends, Hotspots and Practical Safety Insights

California’s capital is widely loved for its tree-lined streets, farm-to-fork culture, and relative affordability compared to the coastal metros. However, potential residents often pause when they see the headlines. Questions about the Sacramento crime rate are common. Is the "City of Trees" actually safe for families?

The reality of living here is nuanced. While certain statistics are higher than the national average, safety is largely determined by your specific zip code and street. This report cuts through the noise to present the raw data and actionable advice you need to make an informed decision. Read on!

Sacramento Crime Rate: The Facts and Figures

To get a clear picture of the crime rate in Sacramento CA, we must rely on the most recent official reports rather than hearsay.

1. Current Crime Rate in Sacramento

Sacramento’s recent yearly crime numbers show a clear pattern. Based on FBI-reported data, the city has about 40 to 50 reported crimes each year for every 1,000 people.

Violent crime is the smaller part of the picture. It comes out to about 8 crimes per 1,000 residents, or around 750 per 100,000 people. This group includes the most serious cases, like murder, rape, robbery, and severe assaults.

Property crime happens much more often. The city sees about 25 to 32 property crimes per 1,000 people a year, which is around 2,547 per 100,000. These are things like break-ins, theft, and car crimes.

When you put it all together, the average person in Sacramento faces about a 1 in 25 chance of being part of a reported crime in a year. Most of that risk comes from property crime, since those cases make up the majority of what gets reported.

2. Common Types of Crimes in Sacramento

For a city with a population of approximately 526,670, the raw numbers show a clear pattern: property offenses vastly outnumber violent ones. The following table breaks down the specific offenses reported to law enforcement in the most recent full-year dataset.

Data Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

How Has Sacramento’s Crime Rate Changed Over Time?

The crime rate Sacramento California has changed a lot in the last few years. It rose fast during the pandemic, then started to cool after 2022. The drop is clearer in violent crime. Theft is still the part that hasn’t improved much.

• Homicides are down. California’s homicide rate fell in 2024. The 2024 rate was the second lowest since at least 1966. The total number of homicides statewide also dropped by nearly 12% from 2023 to 2024. Sacramento followed that trend. Local counts show 41 homicides in 2023, lower than in 2022 (54 homicides). Violent crime overall has also leveled out compared with the peak years from 2020 to 2022.
• Property crime is still high.Violence has eased, but property crime has not dropped the same way. In 2024, Sacramento reported 13,416 property crimes. Theft was the biggest part, with 8,406 larceny-theft reports. Burglaries were also common, with 2,326 cases. So even if assaults and killings are down, stealing and break-ins keep daily crime levels up.
• Vehicle theft spiked, then began to cool.After falling for several years, Sacramento’s auto-theft rate hit a low around 484 per 100k vehicles, surged back near 700, and has recently eased to roughly 512 in 2024.

Overall, the picture is mixed: violent crime is cooling after the pandemic spike, but property crime, especially car theft and burglary, still hits daily life. For that kind of risk, some residents choose tools like the eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max. Its 4K wide lens watches the whole street, while the PTZ lens locks on and follows suspicious cars or people as they move, helping improve safety.

Safest Areas and Crime Hotspots in Sacramento

Is Sacramento safe? Sacramento has quiet suburbs and areas with more crime. Knowing the difference helps you feel safe. Next, we'll cover the safest neighborhoods and the ones with the most trouble today.

Top Rated Safe Neighborhoods

According to neighborhood safety assessments by Niche and local crime mapping data, these areas boast low incident reports:

• Natomas Park:A master-planned community in North Sacramento. It is widely recognized as one of the safest areas, statistically safer than 82% of other Sacramento neighborhoods. The planned nature of the streets limits escape routes for potential thieves.
• Pocket / Greenhaven:Known for its unique loop layout along the Sacramento River which discourages through-traffic. This design keeps crime very low, making it a top choice for retirees and families.
• Valley Hi (North Laguna):Data shows this area has a very low crime rate of roughly 2 crimes per 1,000 residents, far below the city average.
• East Sacramento:Historic, wealthy, and generally very safe. However, residents here must still be vigilant about car break-ins due to the prevalence of street parking compared to suburban garages.

Areas of Concern

Data indicates higher concentrations of violent and property crime in specific zones:

• Del Paso Heights:This area has historically struggled with higher crime rates and remains a focal point for police intervention and community revitalization efforts.
• Midtown (Specifically K Street):While culturally vibrant and safe during the day, the high density of bars and nightlife leads to inflated theft statistics at night. It has a high "crime rate" statistically because few people live there, but thousands visit.
• Gardenland:Statistics indicate crime rates here can be significantly higher than the national average, specifically regarding property theft.

Given these hotspots, home security can feel more urgent, especially for renters and families nearby. An indoor camera can bring real peace of mind after dark. The Indoor Cam S350 suits Sacramento’s higher-risk areas: dual 4K cameras catch clear faces and door activity for evidence, 8× hybrid zoom checks a noise across the room, 360° pan-tilt removes blind spots in small homes, and IR night vision with AI tracking follows late-night movement. A solid pick if you want reliable indoor protection.

Safety Tips for Living in Sacramento

After looking at areas of concern, you might wonder, is Sacramento a safe city overall? The answer often comes down to how well you stay alert and protect your surroundings. Let’s go over key safety tips for daily life in the city.

• Outdoor visibility:A multi-angle outdoor security camera helps cover driveways, side gates, and backyards where property crime often begins. The eufyCam S4 4-Cam Kit works nicely here. You get a sharp 4K wide view of the yard, plus a PTZ camera that automatically follows movement and zooms in so you can see who’s there, even from far away. The solar panel keeps it topped up with little effort, and the radar + PIR combo helps avoid annoying false alerts.
• Porch Protection:"Porch piracy" is rampant in urban residential grids like Midtown and Land Park where packages are left visible from the sidewalk. Video Doorbells are essential for screening visitors. The Video Doorbell E340 is superior here because it uses two cameras—one facing forward and one facing down—so you can see if a package has been dropped off or snatched.
• Automate Your Defense:Don't rely on just a lock. A comprehensive approach using the eufy ExpertSecure System ties all your defenses together. With local storage, outage-resistant monitoring, and AI verification, it helps deter break-ins and quickly speeds real help when most needed.
• Lighting:Keep your yard well-lit. Motion-activated floodlights are highly effective at scaring off prowlers looking for unlocked cars.
• Community Awareness:Join your local Nextdoor or Facebook community group. Sacramento residents are very active in reporting suspicious activity, which often helps neighbors prevent crime before it happens.
• Car Safety:Don’t leave bags, laptops, or even charging cords where people can see them. A thief shining a light into cars might think a gym bag is a laptop bag. That small hint can be enough for them to smash a window.

Conclusion

So, is Sacramento a safe city? Yes, for the most part. While the raw data shows a higher property Sacramento crime rate than the national average, this is typical for a major West Coast capital.

The violent crime is largely contained to specific hotspots that are easy to avoid. By choosing a neighborhood like Natomas, the Pocket, or East Sac, and equipping your home with modern security tools like those from eufy, you can enjoy the Delta breeze and vibrant culture without worry.

FAQs

Is Sacramento a good place to live?

Absolutely. Despite the crime statistics, Sacramento offers a significantly lower cost of living than the nearby Bay Area and a booming job market in healthcare and government. Most residents feel safe in their daily lives, especially in the suburban rings. The city is known for its incredible access to outdoor activities like the American River Parkway and its status as America's Farm-to-Fork capital.

Is North Sacramento the only not safe neighborhood?

No, that is a misconception. "North Sacramento" covers a huge area. While older sections like Del Paso Heights have higher crime rates, North Natomas (also in the north) is one of the safest, most modern areas in the city. Conversely, parts of South Sacramento, such as Meadowview and areas along Florin Road, also face safety challenges.

Which California city has more crime, Sacramento or Fresno?

Historically, Fresno has had higher rates of violent crime. However, recent data shows Fresno is making faster progress in reducing crime. In 2023, Fresno saw a 12.6% drop in property crime, while Sacramento continues to struggle with high volumes of larceny and auto theft. Currently, Sacramento likely has a higher rate of property crime per capita.

Which areas should I avoid in Sacramento, CA as a tourist?

Tourists should generally exercise caution in the K Street corridor downtown late at night after bars close, as fights can occasionally break out. Additionally, it is best to avoid wandering into Del Paso Heights or the deeper parts of South Sacramento if you are unfamiliar with the area. Stick to the grid (Midtown/Downtown) during the day and early evening, and you will likely have a safe experience.