Palm Desert, CA vs Placentia, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Palm Desert and Placentia, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Palm Desert and Placentia are neck and neck
Both score 78/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Palm Desert wins 6 of 8 offense categories, Placentia wins 2.
Palm Desert, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 53,647
- Violent / 100k
- 138
- Property / 100k
- 2,095
- In California
- #52 of 175
Placentia, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 53,580
- Violent / 100k
- 245
- Property / 100k
- 1,211
- In California
- #53 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Palm Desert | Placentia | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 78B | 78B | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 138 | 245 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 2,095 | 1,211 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 0 | 1.9 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 2,233 | 1,456 | 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 | Palm Desert | Placentia |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 0 | 1.9 |
| Rape | 13 | 14.9 |
| Robbery | 61.5 | 35.5 |
| Aggravated assault | 63.4 | 192 |
| Burglary | 235 | 235 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,734 | 821 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 117 | 142 |
| Arson | 9.3 | 13.1 |
Crime trends
Palm Desert
Placentia
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Desert or Placentia safer?
Which has more violent crime, Palm Desert or Placentia?
What are the odds of violent crime in Palm Desert vs Placentia?
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 Palm Desert & Placentia
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