Alameda, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Alameda and Costa Mesa, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Alameda and Costa Mesa are neck and neck
Both score 57/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Alameda wins 4 of 8 offense categories, Costa Mesa wins 4.
Alameda, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 78,978
- Violent / 100k
- 347
- Property / 100k
- 3,553
- In California
- #135 of 175
Costa Mesa, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 108,414
- Violent / 100k
- 542
- Property / 100k
- 2,093
- In California
- #137 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Alameda | Costa Mesa | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 57D | 57D | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 347 | 542 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 3,553 | 2,093 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 0 | 2.8 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 3,900 | 2,635 | 1,802 |
Grade shown per index band (88–100 = A … 0–29 = F). Rates are reported offenses per 100,000 residents.
By offense
Rate per 100,000 residents — the lower (safer) city is highlighted.
| Offense | Alameda | Costa Mesa |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 0 | 2.8 |
| Rape | 26.6 | 67.3 |
| Robbery | 113 | 72.9 |
| Aggravated assault | 208 | 399 |
| Burglary | 234 | 245 |
| Larceny-theft | 2,650 | 1,579 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 656 | 257 |
| Arson | 12.7 | 11.1 |
Crime trends
Alameda
Costa Mesa
Frequently asked questions
Is Alameda or Costa Mesa safer?
Which has more violent crime, Alameda or Costa Mesa?
What are the odds of violent crime in Alameda vs Costa Mesa?
No area has zero risk
A high Crime Index score means lower reported crime relative to other US cities — it is not a guarantee of safety. Reported crime is not the same as actual crime. Research on the gap between crime that occurs and crime that gets reported to police — often called the "dark figure" of crime — estimates that roughly 40% of violent crime and about a third of property crime go unreported each year. Every index built on official statistics, including this one, necessarily undercounts real crime. That gap is exactly why homicide — the offense with the smallest dark figure — anchors the calculation instead of a more commonly reported but less reliable category like theft.
Scores on this page reflect FBI-reported data for 2025. See the full methodology →
Protecting yourself in Alameda & Costa Mesa
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