Are you thinking about moving to Vallejo? Vallejo is the second largest city in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, situated on the San Pablo Bay. Vallejo is home to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, the Empress Theatre, built in 1911, and Benicia State Recreation Area. If you’re wondering whether or not Vallejo is safe, it does have a high crime rate. Don’t let this deter you, though, because every big city has high-crime areas that you should avoid. As long as you know where the safe neighborhoods are, you can rest assured that your family will be safe in Vallejo.
This guide to Vallejo crime can help you avoid the dangerous parts of the city, find the safest neighborhoods, and help you decide if moving to Vallejo is right for you.
Understanding the Vallejo Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
Crime rates are calculated from crime data collected by the FBI from law enforcement agencies. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program began compiling crime statistics in 1930, and today they collect data from over 18,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country using the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
The NIBRS replaced the old Summary Reporting system (SRS) in 2021 because it captures more information than the SRS did, adding more details for each crime incident and separating offenses within the same incident. It also collects hate crime data.
Crime data is divided into violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes include arson, burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. Although violent crimes have risen over the past decade in Vallejo, property crimes dropped.Â
While it might seem natural to use crime rates and statistics to compare whether one city is safer than another, the FBI discourages doing this. Below is a list of some important factors that the crime statistics don’t take into consideration when making these comparisons:
- Population density and degree of urbanization
- Composition of the population
- Stability of the population (mobility, commuting patterns, and transient factors)
- Economic conditions (median income, poverty level, job availability, etc.)
- Modes of transportation and highway systems
- Cultural, educational, recreational, and religious makeup
- Divorce and family cohesiveness
- Effective strength of law enforcement agencies
- Citizens’ attitudes toward crime
- Crime rates are reported for the entire city and give no insight into which neighborhoods have higher crime rates than others. In Vallejo, as in most large cities, violent crime is often concentrated in a few areas.
What Is the Vallejo California Crime Rate?
Here are the crime rate statistics for Vallejo, based on data released by the FBI for 2020:
- The total crime reported was 5,290 (4,324.5 per 100,000 people)
- The total property crime reported was 4,078 (3,333.7 per 100,000 people)
- The total number of violent crimes reported was 1,212 (990.8 per 100,000 people)
- You have a 1 in 100.9 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Vallejo
Here’s how Vallejo compares to the national averages:
- Vallejo crime rates were 84.4% higher than the national average
- Violent crimes in Vallejo were 155.6% higher than the national average
- Property crimes in Vallejo were 70.3% higher than the national average
Vallejo Crime Map & Crime Reports
The Vallejo Police Department provides crime mapping via the Crime GIS Dashboard. You can use the dashboard to search for crimes by type, police beats, or time period within the past 30 days.
Violent Crime in Vallejo
There were 991 violent crimes reported in Vallejo per 100,000 people in 2020. The murder rate was 22, much higher than the rate for the state of California, which was 5.6. The murder rate nationally was 6.5. Vallejo reported 27 murders in 2020, up from 8 in 2018 and 12 in 2019.
The number of violent crimes in Vallejo by type in 2020:
- Murder – 27
- Rape – 134
- Robbery – 315
- Assault – 736
The number of violent crimes per 100,000 people (compared to the national average) in Vallejo:
- Murder – 22 (6.5)
- Rape – 109.5 (38.4)
- Robbery – 257.5 (73.9)
- Assault – 601.7 (279.7)
You have a 1 in 101 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Vallejo. Statewide, the chances are 1 in 226.2.
The Vallejo Police Department works hard every day to keep Vallejo safe with the 111 officers they have. It strives to make its internal data available to the public to inform discussions around law enforcement in the Vallejo community. On their site, you can find Vallejo crime reports and statistics, Operations Bureau reports, crime mapping, 5-year trend reports, information on the use of force by the Vallejo Police Department, and more.
Property Crime in Vallejo
The total number of property crimes reported in Vallejo in 2020 was 4,078. Over the past 5 years, property crime has decreased in Vallejo by 3%.
The Vallejo crime rate (number of reported crimes per 100,000 people) compared to California and the U.S. in property crime in 2020 is:
Total property crime (per 100k population):
- Vallejo – 3,334
- California – 2,139
- U.S. – 1,958
Burglary (per 100k population):
- Vallejo – 1,481
- California – 370
- U.S. – 314
Theft (per 100k population):
- Vallejo – 981
- California – 1,342
- U.S. – 1,398
Vehicle theft (per 100k population):
- Vallejo – 872
- California – 428
- U.S. – 246
Although property crime rates are higher in Vallejo than they are nationally, most of the crime is concentrated in specific areas. How safe Vallejo will be for you will depend on you knowing which areas are safe and which are dangerous.
High Crime Areas of Vallejo
If you are aware of the neighborhoods in Vallejo that have the highest crime rates, you can avoid them. Some neighborhoods you want to avoid in Vallejo are Country Club Crest, Millersville, South Vallejo, and Downtown-West. These are generally lower-income neighborhoods that are known for gangs, drugs, and violence. Your chance of being a victim of crime in one of these neighborhoods can be as high as 1 in 17. Poverty, homelessness, and an excessive amount of street crime and gangs make these areas dangerous to be in.
Safest Neighborhoods in Vallejo
You can find some safe, clean, and affordable neighborhoods in Vallejo to live in. Here are some of the safest neighborhoods in Vallejo.
Benicia
- Population: 28,158
Benicia is a spacious suburb of Vallejo that offers its residents highly-rated schools and plenty of green spaces. The property crime rate in Benicia is 29% below the national average, and the violent crime rate is about 77% lower than the national average. About half of all violent crimes in Benicia are assaults. The murder rate in Benicia is 0. The overall risk of crime in Benicia is 47% lower than the National Average.
Glen Cove
- Population: 8,264
Glen Cove is a peaceful, coastal neighborhood surrounded by lush vegetation and diverse fauna and flora, such as newts, bald eagles, bentgrass, and buckeye trees.
Glen Cove offers lots of amenities and a secure, safe neighborhood close to shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. The overall crime risk in Glen Cove is 42% lower than the National Average.
Heather Ridge
- Population: 273
Heather Ridge is a neighborhood on the east side of Vallejo, which is an area where the crime rates are some of the lowest in the city. The overall risk of crime in Heather Ridge is 68% lower than the National Average. Heather Ridge has walking trails nearby, as well as Blue Rock Springs park & golf course. They also have excellent schools nearby.
Vallejo Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Vallejo, CA
- Avoid high-crime neighborhoods
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Lock your doors and windows
- Don’t leave valuables in plain view
- Lock your car
- Park in well-lit areas
- Use your garage to park vehicles at home
- Don’t be out alone at night, especially in unfamiliar areas
Vallejo Police Department
Facts about the Vallejo Police Department:
- 111 police officers
- 1 police station
- Headquarters – 111 Amador Street, Vallejo, CA 94590
- 10 officers per 116 population
- Interim Chief of Police is Jason Ta
- Non-emergency phone number is 707-648-4321
- Crime reports
After experiencing recent, significant increases in gun violence and violent crimes in Vallejo, The Vallejo Police Department has made a commitment to combat and eliminate these crimes in an effort to make Vallejo a safe, vibrant, and prosperous city for all residents. To address the Vallejo crime, the police department recently launched the Operation PEACE Project. The goal is to promote positive interactions and relationships between officers and the community as well as increase police visibility in the city to deter crime.
Vallejo Crime Rate FAQ
- How safe is Vallejo?
Although there are areas in Vallejo that are unsafe, as is the case with any city, as long as you take precautions and avoid dangerous areas, there are safe places to live in Vallejo.
- Is downtown Vallejo safe?
There are parts of Downtown Vallejo that you should avoid, especially after dark, but downtown is safe in many areas.
- What is the crime rate in Vallejo?
The overall crime rate in Vallejo is 4,325 per 100,000 people. Most crime, especially violent crime, is generally only found in several key areas. In many Vallejo neighborhoods, you don’t have to worry about crime if you take some basic precautions, including locking your doors and cars and avoiding risky neighborhoods.
If you are ready to move to Vallejo, call Motherlode Moving today at 916-631-4285 or fill out our online form for a free quote! Let our award-winning Vallejo, CA movers take care of all your moving needs.
