1. San Bernardino

Raymond Shobe/Flickr Immensely scenic but definitely dangerous, San Bernardino is is unfortunately afflicted with a high crime rate. Your risk of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 67, and the risk for experiencing a property crime is 1 in 36. In 2019, San Bernardino had the third-highest murder rate in the entire state. San Bernardino, CA, USA

  1. Compton

David Wilson/Flickr One of the oldest cities in Los Angeles county is also considered to have one of the highest crime rates in the country. In Compton, your chance of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 85. This has, unfortunately, only risen over the years. Compton, CA, USA

  1. Inglewood

Ken Lund/Flickr Although Inglewood has made significant progress becoming a safer place to live over the past decade, it still tops the list of dangerous cities in SoCal when it comes to violent crime. 1 in 158 are at risk for being a victim of a violent crime in Inglewood, which is slightly better than it has been in recent years. Inglewood, CA, USA

  1. Huntington Park

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Not to be confused with Huntington Beach, the city of Huntington Park is located in the southeast area of Los Angeles and has a population close to 55,000. The risk of being the victim of a property crime in this area is 1 in 32. The risk of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 130. Huntington Park, CA, USA

  1. Commerce

Ken Lund/Flickr Commerce has a population of approximately 13,000. In this city your chance of being a victim of a property crime is 1 in 12. The risk for being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 91. Yikes! Commerce, CA, USA

  1. Desert Hot Springs

Downtown DHS/Flickr Desert Hot Springs is a medium-sized city with a population close to 28,000. The chance of being the victim of a violent crime in this city is 1 in 149, which is a few steps up from past years. Property crimes are a lot more likely, coming in at 1 in 68. Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

  1. El Centro

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr El Centro has a population of 44,000. The rate of violent crime in El Centro is close to the state average with 1 in every 281 residents likely to be a victim. Property crime in this city is a much bigger problem, with the risk of being a victim at 1 in 44. It’s worth mentioning, however, that this number has improved compared to last year, though it remains one of the most dangerous cities in SoCal. El Centro, CA, USA

  1. Calexico

Wikimedia Commons Located in Imperial County about 120 miles from San Diego, Calexico is a city on the US/Mexico border - hence the combined names of California and Mexico. Violent crime in Calexico is much lower than the state average, actually, but property crime is the big risk factor here. In Calexico, your chance of being the victim of a property crime is 1 in 47. Calexico, CA, USA

Even though these cities made the list, there are still a lot of safe areas to live in many of these locations so don’t let the statistics scare you away. What cities have you visited in Southern California that you think should be in the “danger” zone? Be sure to check out Neighborhood Scout’s official website for all the details about these stats.

Raymond Shobe/Flickr

Immensely scenic but definitely dangerous, San Bernardino is is unfortunately afflicted with a high crime rate. Your risk of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 67, and the risk for experiencing a property crime is 1 in 36. In 2019, San Bernardino had the third-highest murder rate in the entire state.

San Bernardino, CA, USA

David Wilson/Flickr

One of the oldest cities in Los Angeles county is also considered to have one of the highest crime rates in the country. In Compton, your chance of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 85. This has, unfortunately, only risen over the years.

Compton, CA, USA

Ken Lund/Flickr

Although Inglewood has made significant progress becoming a safer place to live over the past decade, it still tops the list of dangerous cities in SoCal when it comes to violent crime. 1 in 158 are at risk for being a victim of a violent crime in Inglewood, which is slightly better than it has been in recent years.

Inglewood, CA, USA

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

Not to be confused with Huntington Beach, the city of Huntington Park is located in the southeast area of Los Angeles and has a population close to 55,000. The risk of being the victim of a property crime in this area is 1 in 32. The risk of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 130.

Huntington Park, CA, USA

Commerce has a population of approximately 13,000. In this city your chance of being a victim of a property crime is 1 in 12. The risk for being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 91. Yikes!

Commerce, CA, USA

Downtown DHS/Flickr

Desert Hot Springs is a medium-sized city with a population close to 28,000. The chance of being the victim of a violent crime in this city is 1 in 149, which is a few steps up from past years. Property crimes are a lot more likely, coming in at 1 in 68.

Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

El Centro has a population of 44,000. The rate of violent crime in El Centro is close to the state average with 1 in every 281 residents likely to be a victim. Property crime in this city is a much bigger problem, with the risk of being a victim at 1 in 44. It’s worth mentioning, however, that this number has improved compared to last year, though it remains one of the most dangerous cities in SoCal.

El Centro, CA, USA

Wikimedia Commons

Located in Imperial County about 120 miles from San Diego, Calexico is a city on the US/Mexico border - hence the combined names of California and Mexico. Violent crime in Calexico is much lower than the state average, actually, but property crime is the big risk factor here. In Calexico, your chance of being the victim of a property crime is 1 in 47.

Calexico, CA, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Cities in Southern California December 26, 2021 Tori Jane What are some dangerous things to avoid in Southern California?   Southern California is a beautiful place. There’s no question about why it’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States; it’s scenic, filled with fun things to do and see, and the beaches are to die for. But, this doesn’t mean that it’s not without its rough spots; there are all sorts of things in Southern California that can (and might) kill you. For example, from time to time, there are rare (and often fatal) shark attacks off the coast. The shark most responsible for these attacks is Great Whites, though occasionally another species of shark will try and take a bite out of a boogie boarder (though that’s less common). Speaking of dangerous animals, there are also mountain lions ‘round these parts, and you definitely don’t want to tangle with one of them. Wildfires are a very prevalent risk around these parts of the state, though no part of California is technically “safe” from them.   What are the most dangerous towns/cities in Southern California?   Like we said above – Southern California is beautiful. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that all of its towns are the friendliest. Some of the most dangerous towns in Southern California include places like Oceanside, which is actually the 31st-most dangerous city in the entire state, and Anaheim (which is technically a city) is pretty dangerous (relatively speaking) despite being the home of Disneyland (or maybe BECAUSE it’s the home of Disneyland, a place where millions of people from all over the world come to have a good time, which is bound to attract some less-savory characters). Also on the list are towns like Rialto, Santa Ana, Riverside, and, of course, Los Angeles. Also on the list are San Bernardino and Pomona. For more details about all of these towns and cities, and a little extra info on more, check out this list of the 11 most dangerous places in Southern California after dark. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Cities in Southern California

December 26, 2021

Tori Jane

What are some dangerous things to avoid in Southern California?   Southern California is a beautiful place. There’s no question about why it’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States; it’s scenic, filled with fun things to do and see, and the beaches are to die for. But, this doesn’t mean that it’s not without its rough spots; there are all sorts of things in Southern California that can (and might) kill you. For example, from time to time, there are rare (and often fatal) shark attacks off the coast. The shark most responsible for these attacks is Great Whites, though occasionally another species of shark will try and take a bite out of a boogie boarder (though that’s less common). Speaking of dangerous animals, there are also mountain lions ‘round these parts, and you definitely don’t want to tangle with one of them. Wildfires are a very prevalent risk around these parts of the state, though no part of California is technically “safe” from them.   What are the most dangerous towns/cities in Southern California?   Like we said above – Southern California is beautiful. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that all of its towns are the friendliest. Some of the most dangerous towns in Southern California include places like Oceanside, which is actually the 31st-most dangerous city in the entire state, and Anaheim (which is technically a city) is pretty dangerous (relatively speaking) despite being the home of Disneyland (or maybe BECAUSE it’s the home of Disneyland, a place where millions of people from all over the world come to have a good time, which is bound to attract some less-savory characters). Also on the list are towns like Rialto, Santa Ana, Riverside, and, of course, Los Angeles. Also on the list are San Bernardino and Pomona. For more details about all of these towns and cities, and a little extra info on more, check out this list of the 11 most dangerous places in Southern California after dark. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Southern California is a beautiful place. There’s no question about why it’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States; it’s scenic, filled with fun things to do and see, and the beaches are to die for. But, this doesn’t mean that it’s not without its rough spots; there are all sorts of things in Southern California that can (and might) kill you. For example, from time to time, there are rare (and often fatal) shark attacks off the coast. The shark most responsible for these attacks is Great Whites, though occasionally another species of shark will try and take a bite out of a boogie boarder (though that’s less common). Speaking of dangerous animals, there are also mountain lions ‘round these parts, and you definitely don’t want to tangle with one of them. Wildfires are a very prevalent risk around these parts of the state, though no part of California is technically “safe” from them.  

What are the most dangerous towns/cities in Southern California?  

Like we said above – Southern California is beautiful. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that all of its towns are the friendliest. Some of the most dangerous towns in Southern California include places like Oceanside, which is actually the 31st-most dangerous city in the entire state, and Anaheim (which is technically a city) is pretty dangerous (relatively speaking) despite being the home of Disneyland (or maybe BECAUSE it’s the home of Disneyland, a place where millions of people from all over the world come to have a good time, which is bound to attract some less-savory characters). Also on the list are towns like Rialto, Santa Ana, Riverside, and, of course, Los Angeles. Also on the list are San Bernardino and Pomona. For more details about all of these towns and cities, and a little extra info on more, check out this list of the 11 most dangerous places in Southern California after dark.