Lake Forest, CA vs Thousand Oaks, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Lake Forest and Thousand Oaks, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Lake Forest and Thousand Oaks are neck and neck
Both score 87/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Lake Forest wins 4 of 8 offense categories, Thousand Oaks wins 4.
Lake Forest, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 87,471
- Violent / 100k
- 165
- Property / 100k
- 701
- In California
- #14 of 175
Thousand Oaks, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 123,592
- Violent / 100k
- 125
- Property / 100k
- 989
- In California
- #16 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Lake Forest | Thousand Oaks | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 87B | 87B | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 165 | 125 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 701 | 989 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 0 | 1.6 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 865 | 1,114 | 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 | Lake Forest | Thousand Oaks |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 0 | 1.6 |
| Rape | 4.6 | 10.5 |
| Robbery | 33.2 | 12.1 |
| Aggravated assault | 127 | 101 |
| Burglary | 98.3 | 104 |
| Larceny-theft | 511 | 829 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 82.3 | 52.6 |
| Arson | 9.1 | 2.4 |
Crime trends
Lake Forest
Thousand Oaks
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Forest or Thousand Oaks safer?
Which has more violent crime, Lake Forest or Thousand Oaks?
What are the odds of violent crime in Lake Forest vs Thousand Oaks?
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 Lake Forest & Thousand Oaks
Worried about the numbers above? Compare local providers, estimate costs, and explore the right kind of coverage.