Stockton is a beautiful city in California’s Central Valley that’s situated on the San Joaquin River. As one of the most racially, socially, and economically diverse cities in the country, Stockton is filled with rich history, lovely art, good food, and affordability. If you’re contemplating moving here from across the state or country, you’re probably wondering if living in Stockton CA is safe– let’s take a look!
Is Stockton CA safe? And is Stockton safer than San Francisco? Some people avoid moving to Stockton due to the city’s history of high crime rates but are unaware that much of this crime is directed in certain areas that are easy to avoid. While some areas you’ll want to stay away from, there are plenty of areas and neighborhoods in Stockton that are very safe and family-friendly.
We’ve made a complete Stockton CA crime rate guide to help you understand the city’s crime rates and which neighborhoods are the safest to settle down in.
Note: All data comes from the FBI Crime Reporting Statistics of 2019
Understanding the Stockton CA Crime Rate – How Are Crime Rates Calculated?
Looking up the city’s crime rate is the most common way to determine if it’s safe or not. In the U.S, crime rates are calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population and then multiplying that number by 100,000. This result is the scale of crime instances per 100,000 persons each year. This method allows for an easy comparison of the crime rates of different cities with different populations. Despite this, comparing cities based on their crime rate is actually discouraged by the FBI. You can see here how the FBI Discourages Comparing Crime Rates whereas you can check out crime rates in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics (UCR).
Since all crimes are not equal, how exactly are crime rates calculated? Well, only index crimes are included in the crime rate– not all possible offenses. Property crimes and violent crimes are the two main categories of crime rate statistics. Property crimes include burglary, theft, larceny, vandalism, arson, and shoplifting. On the flip side, violent crimes are considered to be much more dangerous and include things like homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, battery, kidnapping, and sexual assault. Because many crimes lack equal definitions across states, they are often determined by law enforcement’s subjective opinion.
While they can be used as a starting point in your research process, crime rates should not be used to determine if a city is safe overall. There are many things that can lead to a misleading crime rate such as:
- Many crimes go unreported. This includes domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Shootings alone typically aren’t included in crime rates
- Crime rates don’t consider unique factors like targeted crimes. Many crimes have a reason behind them– such as where the target and the assailant know each other.
- Depending on the indicator, crime trends can look good or bad. For example, there can be a rise in homicide while the overall crime rate drops simultaneously.
The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is gradually taking the place of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting system (UCR). This is because the NIBRS collects 20+ index crimes, in comparison to the UCR which only collects 8. Despite the NIBRS collecting more data, the system has its flaws including high and rising crime rates that are misleading.
What is the Stockton CA Crime Rate?
First off, let’s take a look at the Stockton CA total crime rate. The total crime rate per 100k people in Stockton CA is 5,340. This means there is a 1 in 19 chance of being a victim of a crime. If we break this down, the violent crime rate in Stocken is 1,397 per 100k people which gives you a 1 in 72 chance of being a victim of violent crime. Regarding property crime in Stockton, there is a crime rate of 3,944 per 100k people which means you have a 1 in 25 chance of being a victim of property crime.
How does the safety of Stockton compare to the safety of California and the U.S.? According to the FBI, the total crime rate in Stockton is 92.6% higher than California’s average and 115.6% higher than the national average. California has a total crime rate of 2,772 per 100,000 people giving you 1 in 36 chance of being a victim of crime.
The total crime rate in San Francisco is 6,175 per 100k people while the total crime rate in Stockton is 5,340. With that being said, Stockton CA has a better crime rate compared to San Francisco.
Stockton CA Crime Map and Crime Reports
The law enforcement in Stockton CA share selected crime data with the public via the Stockton CA Crime Map. By following the map instructions you’ll be able to stay up-to-date with crimes happening in the area. Filing a police report and subscribing to the city’s police news alerts can be done through the City of Stockton website. The other website to get Stockton crime news is the Stockton Police Department Facebook page.
Violent Crime in Stockton CA
The murder rate in Stockton CA per 100k people is 11, which is about 155.8% higher than the state and 119.8% higher than the national average. In 2019, there was a total of 34 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters in Stockton CA.
The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Stockton CA is 1,397. Most of these crimes include robbery and aggravated assault– only a few are murder, rape, and manslaughter. This rate is about 216.6% higher than the state of California’s average and about 280.9% higher than the national average.
The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Stockton is 1 in 72, which is significantly higher than both the state and nation’s average.
As of now, is Stockton safer than San Francisco? While the total crime rate in Stockton is more appealing, both the violent and property crimes are less severe in San Francisco when compared to Stockton. The majority of Stockton’s violent crime is gang-related and usually only occurs in specific areas.
Regardless of what the UCR-based crime rate statistics, it’s important to keep in mind that the Giffords Law Center ranks California as the #1 state for gun safety. In fact, California recently saw 37% lower gun deaths than the national average.
Property Crime in Stockton CA
The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Stockton CA is 3,944, which is 69.2% higher than the state and about 86.9% higher than the nation. Property crime is mostly made up of larceny (theft) and burglary. The chances of becoming a victim of property crime in Stockton CA is 1 in 25.
Bad/Dangerous/High Crime Areas in Stockton CA
Wondering what part of Stockton is unsafe or dangerous? Below are a few of the most high-crime areas and neighborhoods in Stockton CA. This is where the majority of violent and property crimes occur and are the areas you’ll want to avoid living in. It’s important to remember that every large city has its good areas and not-so-good areas when it comes to crime. Here are the not-so-good areas in Stockton CA:
- Civic Center is the city’s lively downtown with over twice as much crime as the rest of Stockton. This neighborhood has a crime rate of over 10,000 per 100k people– that’s nearly 400% above the national average. While this area is great for shopping, eating out, and entertainment, you’ll want to avoid physically living here.
- Park is a neighborhood that has 72% more crime than most Stockton areas. With the total crime at a rate of 8,567 per 100k people, the crime here is about 265% above the national average.
- Seaport has 53% more crime than the rest of Stockton. This neighborhood has a total crime rate of 6,272 per 100k people which is about 167% above the U.S. average
Safe Neighborhoods in Stockton CA
Open house Saturday and Sunday 12-2. 10147 bay harbor dr Stockton Ca Spanos west neighborhood asking $409,999 pic.twitter.com/8RL9CYRwNG
— James Godi (@UOPPikeJJ) April 27, 2016
Unfortunately, areas like Civic Center and Park are what take up a big chunk of the overall crime occurring in Stockton. This causes people to assume the entire city lacks safety– this is not the case. As stated before, Stockton has numerous safe neighborhoods where you can settle down and feel secure. The safest Stockton CA neighborhoods include:
- Spanos Park is a very family-friendly neighborhood with outdoor activities, great restaurants, and spacious homes. The crime here is approximately 579 per 100k people which is around 75% below the national average.
- Brookside has an estimated total crime rate of 1,370 per 100,000 people which is 42% below the U.S. average. The high amount of safety in this Stockton CA neighborhood makes for a perfect area to raise your family in. The homes here are luxurious yet affordable whereas gated communities and acres of lovely farmland are abundant.
- Weston Ranch is another very safe neighborhood in Stockton. It has a crime rate of 943 per 100k people– that’s 60% below the national average.
Stockton has safe areas near W March Lane, Pacific Avenue, & off of Pershing Ave as well.
Campus Crime & Safety
For students attending the University of the Pacific, keep the following information in mind:
- In 2019, the university had 4.65 incidents per 1,000 students. The majority of offenses that occur at the University of the Pacific are property crimes.
- You can check out crime reports and information about the university here. For information about on-campus crimes around the nation, click here.
- Stay alert for fake vendors and pickpockets.
- Make sure your home and car are always locked and don’t leave any valuables in your car.
Stockton CA Police Department
Below is information regarding the police department in Stockton CA:
- The city of Stockton CA is served by the Stockton Police Department with all of its 459 sworn officers.
- Chief of Police: Chief Stanley McFadden was appointed in 2022.
- The Stockton Police Department was founded in 1850 whereas the first Chief of Police was City Marshal W.W. Willoughby.
- Anyone can access Stockton police reports online.
- Stockton CA police headquarters: 22 E Weber Ave, Stockton, CA 95202
- Non-emergency number: (209) 937-8377
Stockton CA Crime FAQs
What is the Stockton CA crime rate?
Stockton has a crime rate of 5,340 per 100,000 people. In other words, you have a 1 in 19 chance of being a victim of a crime.
Is Stockton CA dangerous?
While there are in fact areas you’ll want to avoid, that doesn’t mean the entire city is dangerous. There are many family-friendly areas in Stockton to consider.
What is the safest area in Stockton CA?
Spanos Park, Brookside, and Weston Ranch are a few of the safest neighborhoods in Stockton CA,
Although it’s no secret that the city has areas to avoid, Stockton has several areas that are safe and peaceful in case you’re thinking about moving here. When you’re ready to relocate, give Southbay Moving Systems a call at 831-786-5537 for quality Stockton CA moving services.
