Santa Barbara, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz are neck and neck
Both score 56/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Santa Barbara wins 4 of 8 offense categories, Santa Cruz wins 4.
Santa Barbara, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 86,926
- Violent / 100k
- 635
- Property / 100k
- 1,666
- In California
- #145 of 175
Santa Cruz, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 62,473
- Violent / 100k
- 533
- Property / 100k
- 2,521
- In California
- #146 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Santa Barbara | Santa Cruz | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 56D | 56D | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 635 | 533 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 1,666 | 2,521 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 1.2 | 0 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 2,301 | 3,054 | 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 | Santa Barbara | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1.2 | 0 |
| Rape | 78.2 | 54.4 |
| Robbery | 69 | 104 |
| Aggravated assault | 487 | 375 |
| Burglary | 169 | 123 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,336 | 2,211 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 144 | 160 |
| Arson | 17.3 | 27.2 |
Crime trends
Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz
Frequently asked questions
Is Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz safer?
Which has more violent crime, Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz?
What are the odds of violent crime in Santa Barbara vs Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Barbara & Santa Cruz
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