Is Pasadena Safe? (Crime Rates And Crime Stats)

If you are thinking about visiting Pasadena and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.

Lets deep dive into the some crime statistics and crime rates and see how safe or dangerous Pasadena really is.

Is Pasadena, CA safe?

Statistically speaking, Pasadena is a very safe city. In 2020, Pasadena had a violent crime rate of 298.49 per 100,000 residents, which is 25% less than the national average and its property crime rate of 2,178.10 per 100,000 residents is 11% greater than the national average.

Does Pasadena have a high crime rate?

Pasadena has a low crime rate and is similar to cities like San Diego, El Paso and San Jose. Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Pasadena’s crime rate:

Pasadena, CA crime rate breakdown

Violent Crime Rate

In 2020 Pasadena reported 414 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 298.49 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.

Year over year violent crime has decreased 32%.

You have a 1 in 335 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Pasadena.

Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Pasadena over a 11 year period.

Pasadena’s Murder Rate

In 2020, Pasadena reported 7 murders and had a murder rate of 5.05 per 100,000 residents. Pasadena’s murder rate is nearly 22% less than the national average.

Year over year murder has increased by 17%.

You have a 1 in 19,814 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Pasadena.

Here’s a graph showing you how murders have trended over the last 11 years in Pasadena.

Here’s a table you showing the murder rates of 15 major cities in the United States. Pasadena has a similar murder rate to San Diego and New York.

	Murder Rate
Philadelphia	35.4
Milwaukee	33.5
Washington D.C.	32.2
Chicago	29.3
Oakland	28.6
Houston	20.3
Dallas	16.1
Phoenix	11.5
Portland	11
Los Angeles	10.6
Las Vegas	8.7
Austin	8.5
San Francisco	6.3
New York	5.7
Pasadena	5.05
San Diego	4.1
San Jose	3.1

Pasadena’s Property Crime Rate

In 2020 Pasadena reported 3,021 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,178.10 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Year over year property crime has increased 5%.

You have a 1 in 46 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Pasadena.

Here’s a graph showing you how property crime has trended in Pasadena over a 11 year period.

Pasadena’s crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)

Here’s how Pasadena’s crime rate compared to other cities in California. Pasadena had the lowest crime rates of all cities listed.

	Population	Violent Crimes (2020)	Violent Crime Rate (2020)
Oakland	440,646	5,937	1,347.34
Stockton	320,804	4023	1,254.04
Los Angeles	3,898,747	28,359	727.39
Sacramento	524,943	3547	675.69
Fresno	542,107	3560	656.70
San Francisco	873,965	4867	556.89
Long Beach	466,742	2343	501.99
Bakersfield	403,455	2007	497.45
San Jose	1,013,240	4375	431.78
San Diego	1,386,932	5303	382.35
Anaheim	346,824	1241	357.82
Pasadena	138,699	414	298.49

Pasadena’s Crime Rate Comparison

Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Pasadena’s violent crime rate is nearly 10 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.

How are Pasadena, CA crime rates calculated?

Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.

For example, in 2020 there were 414 violent crimes in Pasadena and the population was 138,699. This equals a crime rate of 298.49 per 100,000 residents.

Pasadena, CA Crime Stats

The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and are for 2019 and 2020:

	2019	2020	% Change
Murder	4	7	75%
Rape	46	51	11%
Robbery	147	118	-20%
Aggravated Assault	416	238	-43%
Violent Offense Total	613	414	-32%
Burglary	570	654	15%
Larceny	2,036	2,015	-1%
Motor Vehicle Theft	260	352	35%
Property Offense Total	2,866	3,021	5%
Total Index Offenses	3,479	3,435	-1%

How much has crime increased in Pasadena?

In 2020, Pasadena reported 3,435 total crimes, which is a 1% decrease over 2019.

In 2020, Pasadena reported 414 violent crimes, which is a 32% decrease over 2019.

In 2020, Pasadena reported 7 murders, which is a 75% increase over 2019.

In 2020, Pasadena reported 3,021 property crimes, which is a 5% increase over 2019.

Areas to avoid in Pasadena, CA

Let me preface this statement by saying that Pasadena is a safe city. There is nowhere in the city that you couldn’t drive through and not feel safe. With that being said, the only not-so-polished part of Pasadena is the the northwest quadrant. Anything west of Los Robles and north of Washington. However, the northwest quadrant of Pasadena nowhere compares to areas like Compton or Watts.

Is the public transportation in Pasadena safe?

The public transportation system in Pasadena is handled by the Pasadena Transit, which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.

The transit is generally a safe option to use during normal commuting hours (7am – 8pm), however we recommend that you use a taxi or ride sharing service outside of those hours.

Is Pasadena safe at night?

Pasadena is generally a safe city at night. Avoid walking through areas that are desolate and unlit and you should be fine.

What do residents of Pasadena say about it’s safety?

"Pasadena and South Pasadena are very safe and very family oriented."
"I have lived in Pasadena my whole life and I can say confidently that the city is clean, safe, and generally a positive place."
"Pasadena is like the suburb of Los Angeles. Its very calm and peaceful and away from all the madness and energy."
"The only sketchy part of Pasadena is North Pasadena, but compared to other parts of LA its not all that bad."
"Pasadena is really safe. Easily one of the safest areas of Los Angeles."

Tips to stay safe while visiting Pasadena

Research the city before you arrive. Learn which parts of the city are good and which parts are sketchy and plan your trip with this knowledge.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Stay off your cellphone and keep your eyes and ears open for any potential dangers.
Always walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target individuals who meek or unsure of themselves.
Don’t travel by yourself late at night.
Don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight in your car.
Don’t park in desolate areas or areas that are not well lit. Consider using parking garages when visiting.

Facts about Pasadena, CA

The population of Pasadena in 2020 was 138,699 and is the 192nd most populous city in the United States.
The city covers a land area of 22.96 square miles.
The median age was 37.2 years.
88.9% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 53.0% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $85,129. The per capita income for the city was $50,205.
14% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in Pasadena is $1.2M in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a Pasadena 2-bedroom apartment is $3,100.