Every person hopes to live in a safe city, and the home security research company SafeWise conducted independent research based on crime data from the FBI to evaluate the safest cities in the United States in 2026.
In California, seven of the top ten safest cities are concentrated in three counties: Orange County and Ventura County each have three and two cities respectively, while Contra Costa County has two cities. Eight of these cities have an area of less than 25 square miles and a population ranging from approximately 36,000 to 85,000; the tenth-ranked city, Thousand Oaks, is the largest among the top ten safest cities.
Among these cities, Moorpark and Lincoln were established earliest in 1887 and 1890 respectively; while Rancho Santa Margarita, with only 26 years of history, has the longest city name in California consisting of 20 letters.
Danville, located in San Ramon Valley, Contra Costa County, covers an area of 18.08 square miles with a population of over 43,000. It was established as a charter city by resident vote in 1982.
Rancho Santa Margarita, located in Orange County, covers an area of 12.94 square miles with a population of nearly 48,000. It was incorporated in 2000.
Lincoln, situated in the Sacramento metropolitan area, Placer County, covers an area of 24.21 square miles with a population of nearly 50,000. It was established in 1890.
Moorpark, located in Ventura County, covers an area of 12.46 square miles with a population of over 36,000. It was established in 1887.
Yorba Linda, situated in Orange County, covers an area of 19.97 square miles with a population of 68,000. It was incorporated in 1967.
Calexico, located in Imperial County in the southernmost part of California near the southern border, covers an area of 8.62 square miles with a population of over 38,000. It was established in 1908.
Poway, located in San Diego County in Southern California, covers an area of 39.17 square miles with a population of nearly 49,000. It was incorporated in 1980.
Laguna Niguel, situated in Orange County, covers an area of 14.79 square miles with a population of approximately 64,000. It was incorporated in 1989.
San Ramon, located in Contra Costa County, covers an area of 18.72 square miles with a population of nearly 85,000. It was incorporated in 1983.
Thousand Oaks, situated in Ventura County, covers an area of 55.40 square miles with a population of approximately 127,000. It was incorporated in 1964.
Residents’ sense of safety assessment
According to SafeWise’s survey, Californians generally have higher concerns about safety compared to Americans in other regions, possibly due to more personal experiences with violent crimes or property theft. Approximately 58% of Californians feel highly concerned about their safety, ranking fifth in the nation, although lower than the 64% in 2025; only 37% of Californians feel secure, ranking fifth from the bottom nationwide.
Most worrisome crimes
Californians are most worried about cybercrime, violent crime, gun violence, property crime, and theft, all of which exceed the national average levels.
The violent crime rate in California is 4.24 incidents per 1,000 individuals, slightly lower than the national average of 4.43. However, 67% of Californians fear encountering violent crime, although down from 72% the previous year, it remains significantly higher than the national average of 55%. 19% of people experienced violent crime in the past 12 months, up from 15% the previous year.
The property crime rate in California is 20.84 incidents per 1,000 individuals, lower than the 2024 rate of 25.3 and the national average of 22.89. Yet, 58% of Californians believe that the crime rate is increasing. Although concerns about theft decreased from 66% to 58% compared to the previous year, California still ranks third in the nation.
However, the percentage of Californians personally experiencing property crime decreased from 33% to 20% from the previous year; the percentage of those experiencing theft also decreased from 42% to 39%, ranking fifth nationally.
67% of Californians are concerned about gun violence. 10% of residents reported experiencing gun violence in the past 12 months, lower than 13% the previous year but higher than the national average of 9%. In 2025, California had 29 mass shooting incidents, ranking second in the nation, lower than the 35 incidents in 2024. Only 21% of people in California would use a firearm for self-defense, much lower than the national average of 45%.
States most concerned about natural disasters
Californians express the highest level of concern about natural disasters in the nation. 70% are worried about wildfires or smoke, compared to the national average of 47%; 64% are concerned about earthquakes, significantly higher than the national average of 23%, ranking first; 56% worry about droughts, while the national average is 34%; in addition, 14% of Californians have been evacuated due to natural disasters.
Residents’ safety precaution survey
37% of Californians took new property security measures in the 12 months prior to the survey. Popular measures included security cameras (54%), security systems (33%), and guard dogs (33%). Over half of individuals use pepper spray or a folding knife for personal protection, while 21% use firearms.
Research has shown that multi-faceted security measures are crucial in reducing risks and preventing crimes, including:
1) Community prevention: improving lighting, maintaining clear lines of sight (trimming trees and shrubs near doors and windows), and neighborhood watch programs;
2) Stay vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, trust your instincts;
3) Home safety: ensure the security of all entry points (don’t forget about patios or sliding glass doors), eliminate hiding spots around the house, and develop safe habits (lock doors, activate security systems);
4) Proper use of security technology, including surveillance cameras equipped with alarms.