The West Coast’s Most Crime-Ridden Cities in 2025 (Ranked!)
Ready to play “spot the sketchy”? We crunched the latest FBI and local data to rank the West Coast’s roughest cities in 2025. These aren’t just urban legends—these places carry serious stats on violent and property crime. We leaned on FBI 2023 figures, local DOJ reports, and news coverage to pull it all together. Disclaimer: this isn’t to scare—it’s to inform. So, without further ado, here are the seven cities with crime vibes so strong they practically hum.
Table of Contents
1. Oakland, CA
Oakland tops the list thanks to a crime surge post-pandemic: violent crime is up ~150% since 2003, with property crime up ~72%. In 2023 alone, it hit the highest car-theft rate in over 20 years—about one stolen vehicle per 27 residents en.wikipedia.org. Neighborhoods like East and West Oakland remain hotspots for robbery and assault, despite local efforts to dial back violence.
2. Stockton, CA
Stockton recorded nearly 17.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and more than 1,400 property crimes per 1,000 reolink.com. Once infamous for gang activity, its homicide rate still climbs, fueled by persistent social and economic issues. Not a place to test your luck.
3. San Bernardino, CA
At 15.65 violent crimes/1,000 and an eye-popping 1,291 property crimes/1,000, San Bernardino is no slouch in the stats game spolinlaw.com+3areavibes.com+3nypost.com+3gov1.com+3reolink.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3. Meth-related robberies and break-ins plague neighborhoods, and local policing resources are stretched thin.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
4. Vallejo, CA
A smaller city with big problems: around 23 murders and 44 rapes in 2024, in just 120,000 residents reolink.comnypost.com. Residents have even petitioned Gov. Newsom to send help amid understaffing in the local police force. A surprisingly violent pocket of the Bay Area.
5. San Francisco, CA
Despite its fancy tech image, SF isn’t squeaky clean. While overall crime dipped 14% in 2024, property crime rates remain high—think smash-and-grab car thefts, shoplifting, and theft from persons ppic.org+5data-openjustice.doj.ca.gov+5nypost.com+5. Homicides hit a mid-century low, but aggressive theft is still a daily headache.
6. Seattle, WA
Up in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle had a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 in 2023 en.wikipedia.org. Though violent crime dropped slightly from its COVID-era peak, property crime remains stubbornly high—burglary, car break-ins, and the like.
7. Fresno, CA
Fresno packs a surprising punch with 4,532 total crimes per 100,000 residents, including high numbers of both violent and property crimes en.wikipedia.org. Add economic struggles and pockets of gang activity, and you’ve got a city that needs more than its scenic San Joaquin Valley fame to be taken seriously.
MORE ON THE WEST COAST:
READ MORE: The Best of Oregon
READ MORE: The Best of Washington
READ MORE: The Best of California
*GRAB THE BEST WEST COAST ADVENTURE MAP FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!*
