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Crime rate in Palo Alto, California (CA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map


City-Data.com crime index in Palo Alto, CA compared to other U.S. cities

Crime rate in Palo Alto, CA

The 2020 crime rate in Palo Alto, CA is 181 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.4 times lower than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 71.4% U.S. cities. The 2020 Palo Alto crime rate rose by 3% compared to 2019. The number of homicides stood at 1. In the last 5 years Palo Alto has seen rise of violent crime and rise of property crime.
See how dangerous Palo Alto, CA is compared to the nearest cities:
(Note: Higher means more crime)
Palo Alto:

180.8
East Palo Alto:

297.2
Menlo Park:

154.0
Atherton:

167.7
Mountain View:

175.2
Los Altos Hills:

71.2
Los Altos:

82.4
Redwood City:

167.5
Sunnyvale:

151.0
City-Data.com crime index
Crime rates in Palo Alto by year

Type

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020
Murders
(per 100,000)		1
(1.7)		2
(3.4)		1
(1.7)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		2
(3.0)		1
(1.5)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		1
(1.5)		1
(1.5)
Rapes
(per 100,000)		1
(1.7)		5
(8.6)		9
(15.1)		4
(6.2)		3
(4.6)		4
(6.1)		4
(6.0)		3
(4.5)		13
(19.2)		9
(13.4)		11
(16.3)		5
(7.4)		10
(14.9)		12
(18.3)
Robberies
(per 100,000)		44
(76.3)		42
(72.2)		29
(48.7)		39
(60.6)		24
(36.8)		26
(39.4)		29
(43.3)		29
(43.2)		26
(38.5)		28
(41.6)		39
(57.8)		30
(44.4)		46
(68.7)		39
(59.6)
Assaults
(per 100,000)		18
(31.2)		34
(58.4)		69
(116.0)		15
(23.3)		37
(56.8)		23
(34.8)		21
(31.4)		27
(40.2)		27
(40.0)		35
(52.0)		40
(59.3)		37
(54.8)		29
(43.3)		29
(44.3)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)		283
(490.5)		366
(628.8)		267
(448.8)		217
(336.9)		286
(438.9)		327
(495.3)		242
(361.4)		257
(382.6)		213
(315.3)		215
(319.4)		214
(317.3)		234
(346.4)		179
(267.4)		242
(369.7)
Thefts
(per 100,000)		1,085
(1,881)		1,307
(2,246)		1,350
(2,269)		1,080
(1,677)		923
(1,417)		1,034
(1,566)		1,174
(1,753)		976
(1,453)		1,405
(2,080)		1,159
(1,722)		1,478
(2,192)		1,197
(1,772)		1,722
(2,573)		1,570
(2,398)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)		72
(124.8)		71
(122.0)		49
(82.4)		49
(76.1)		39
(59.9)		48
(72.7)		67
(100.1)		66
(98.3)		86
(127.3)		62
(92.1)		91
(134.9)		82
(121.4)		82
(122.5)		119
(181.8)
Arson
(per 100,000)		15
(26.0)		13
(22.3)		33
(55.5)		22
(34.2)		12
(18.4)		12
(18.2)		10
(14.9)		2
(3.0)		6
(8.9)		8
(11.9)		6
(8.9)		8
(11.8)		8
(12.0)		22
(33.6)
City-Data.com crime index153.5190.7182.1124.5118.3126.8127.5117.3156.3135.1162.9135.0175.6180.8

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 254.8. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

- means the value is smaller than the state average.
- means the value is about the same as the state average.
- means the value is bigger than the state average.
- means the value is much bigger than the state average.



According to our research of California and other state lists, there were 17 registered sex offenders living in Palo Alto, California as of June 03, 2023.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Palo Alto is 3,992 to 1.
The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is much lower than the state average.


When are crimes committed in Palo Alto, CA?

Violent crime rate in 2020
Palo Alto:

73.3
U.S. Average:

228.3

Violent crime rate in 2019
Palo Alto:

73.9
U.S. Average:

219.8

Violent crime rate in 2018
Palo Alto:

57.0
U.S. Average:

221.2

Violent crime rate in 2017
Palo Alto:

74.9
U.S. Average:

226.3

Violent crime rate in 2016
Palo Alto:

63.1
U.S. Average:

227.3

Violent crime rate in 2015
Palo Alto:

64.4
U.S. Average:

219.4

Violent crime rate in 2014
Palo Alto:

46.2
U.S. Average:

211.1

Violent crime rate in 2013
Palo Alto:

43.3
U.S. Average:

214.3

Violent crime rate in 2012
Palo Alto:

43.2
U.S. Average:

187.4

Violent crime rate in 2011
Palo Alto:

51.4
U.S. Average:

187.1

Violent crime rate in 2010
Palo Alto:

48.1
U.S. Average:

195.6

Violent crime rate in 2009
Palo Alto:

100.9
U.S. Average:

208.9

Violent crime rate in 2008
Palo Alto:

80.8
U.S. Average:

222.5

Violent crime rate in 2007
Palo Alto:

58.9
U.S. Average:

229.1

Violent crime rate in 2006
Palo Alto:

54.8
U.S. Average:

232.6

Violent crime rate in 2005
Palo Alto:

78.8
U.S. Average:

227.1

Violent crime rate in 2004
Palo Alto:

84.2
U.S. Average:

223.6

Violent crime rate in 2003
Palo Alto:

77.5
U.S. Average:

230.3

Property crime rate in 2020
Palo Alto:

221.1
U.S. Average:

169.6

Property crime rate in 2019
Palo Alto:

200.5
U.S. Average:

179.7

Property crime rate in 2018
Palo Alto:

176.1
U.S. Average:

190.2

Property crime rate in 2017
Palo Alto:

193.3
U.S. Average:

206.4

Property crime rate in 2016
Palo Alto:

163.8
U.S. Average:

216.6

Property crime rate in 2015
Palo Alto:

186.1
U.S. Average:

221.5

Property crime rate in 2014
Palo Alto:

163.9
U.S. Average:

230.8

Property crime rate in 2013
Palo Alto:

174.9
U.S. Average:

250.4

Property crime rate in 2012
Palo Alto:

188.3
U.S. Average:

267.3

Property crime rate in 2011
Palo Alto:

167.6
U.S. Average:

273.5

Property crime rate in 2010
Palo Alto:

162.6
U.S. Average:

276.4

Property crime rate in 2009
Palo Alto:

215.6
U.S. Average:

285.6

Property crime rate in 2008
Palo Alto:

256.3
U.S. Average:

302.2

Property crime rate in 2007
Palo Alto:

210.8
U.S. Average:

309.2

Property crime rate in 2006
Palo Alto:

291.0
U.S. Average:

317.3

Property crime rate in 2005
Palo Alto:

270.8
U.S. Average:

322.3

Property crime rate in 2004
Palo Alto:

242.2
U.S. Average:

327.4

Property crime rate in 2003
Palo Alto:

232.4
U.S. Average:

334.1
Murders per 100,000 population
Rapes per 100,000 population
Robberies per 100,000 population
Assaults per 100,000 population
Burglaries per 100,000 population
Thefts per 100,000 population
Auto thefts per 100,000 population
Arson per 100,000 population

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2021, including police officers: 114 (70 officers - 61 male; 9 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.04
California average:

2.30

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 123 (80 officers - 71 male; 9 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.22
California average:

2.02

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 137 (77 officers - 66 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.15
California average:

2.01

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2018, including police officers: 137 (77 officers - 66 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.14
California average:

2.01

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2017, including police officers: 142 (77 officers - 65 male; 12 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.14
California average:

2.32

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2016, including police officers: 137 (79 officers - 69 male; 10 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.17
California average:

2.32

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2015, including police officers: 142 (85 officers - 74 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.26
California average:

1.98

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2014, including police officers: 148 (89 officers - 77 male; 12 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.33
California average:

2.00

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2013, including police officers: 144 (87 officers - 76 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.30
California average:

2.34

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2012, including police officers: 134 (79 officers - 67 male; 12 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.20
California average:

2.36

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2011, including police officers: 141 (83 officers - 68 male; 15 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.27
California average:

2.09

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2010, including police officers: 143 (86 officers - 69 male; 17 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.34
California average:

2.46

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2009, including police officers: 154 (86 officers - 68 male; 18 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.45
California average:

2.52

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008, including police officers: 157 (91 officers - 69 male; 22 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.56
California average:

2.56

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2007, including police officers: 153 (82 officers - 59 male; 23 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.42
California average:

2.48

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2006, including police officers: 149 (84 officers - 61 male; 23 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.46
California average:

2.38

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2005, including police officers: 157 (87 officers - 63 male; 24 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.52
California average:

2.34

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2004, including police officers: 164 (87 officers - 65 male; 22 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.50
California average:

2.36

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2003, including police officers: 169 (90 officers - 68 male; 22 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.55
California average:

2.42

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in Palo Alto, CA
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Officers
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Civilians

Zip codes: 94301, 94305.

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