Lancaster, CA vs Los Angeles, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Lancaster and Los Angeles, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Los Angeles is the safer city
Los Angeles scores 49/100 (grade D) versus 48/100 (grade D) for Lancaster — a 1-point gap. Lancaster's violent-crime rate is +15% vs Los Angeles. Across the 8 offense categories, Los Angeles has the lower rate in 5.
Lancaster, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 166,019
- Violent / 100k
- 767
- Property / 100k
- 1,627
- In California
- #160 of 175
Los Angeles, CA
SaferCrime Index
- Population
- 3,874,484
- Violent / 100k
- 670
- Property / 100k
- 2,252
- In California
- #158 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Lancaster | Los Angeles | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 48D | 49D | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 767 | 670 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 1,627 | 2,252 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 10.8 | 5.8 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 2,394 | 2,922 | 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 | Lancaster | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 10.8 | 5.8 |
| Rape | 54.8 | 36.2 |
| Robbery | 167 | 187 |
| Aggravated assault | 535 | 441 |
| Burglary | 305 | 309 |
| Larceny-theft | 646 | 1,410 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 641 | 519 |
| Arson | 34.3 | 13.5 |
Crime trends
Lancaster
Los Angeles
Frequently asked questions
Is Lancaster or Los Angeles safer?
Which has more violent crime, Lancaster or Los Angeles?
What are the odds of violent crime in Lancaster vs Los Angeles?
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 Lancaster & Los Angeles
Worried about the numbers above? Compare local providers, estimate costs, and explore the right kind of coverage.