Is Riverside, CA Safe? (Crime Rates and Crime Stats)

If you are thinking about visiting Riverside 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 Riverside really is.

Is Riverside safe?

Statistically speaking, Riverside is a safe city. In 2020, Riverside had a violent crime rate of 473.34 per 100,000 residents, which is 19% greater than the national average and its property crime rate of 3,168.27 per 100,000 residents is 62% greater than the national average.

Does Riverside have a high crime rate?

Riverside has a low crime rate and is similar to cities like Austin, Santa Barbara and New York. Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Riverside’s crime rate:

Riverside, CA crime rate breakdown

Violent Crime Rate

In 2020 Riverside reported 1,491 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 473.34 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.

Year over year violent crime has decreased 12%.

You have a 1 in 211 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Riverside.

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

Riverside’s Murder Rate

In 2020, Riverside reported 2 murders and had a murder rate of 2.3 per 100,000 residents. Riverside’s murder rate is 65% less than the national average.

Year over year murder has remained the same.

You have a 1 in 44,333 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Riverside.

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

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

	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
Riverside	6.3
San Francisco	6.3
New York	5.7
San Diego	4.1
San Jose	3.1

Riverside’s Property Crime Rate

In 2020 Riverside reported 9,980 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 3,168.27 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Year over year property crime has increased 2%.

You have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Riverside.

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

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

Here’s how Riverside’s crime rate compared to other cities in California. Riverside 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
Riverside	88,665	389	438.73
San Jose	1,013,240	4375	431.78
San Diego	1,386,932	5303	382.35
Anaheim	346,824	1241	357.82

Riverside’s Crime Rate Comparison

Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Riverside’s violent crime rate is more than 6 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.

How are Riverside, 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 1,491 violent crimes in Riverside and the population was 314,998. This equals a crime rate of 473.34 per 100,000 residents.

Riverside, 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	17	20	18%
Rape	139	152	9%
Robbery	476	394	-17%
Aggravated Assault	1,054	925	-12%
Violent Offense Total	1,686	1,491	-12%
Burglary	1,302	1,639	26%
Larceny	6,997	6,456	-8%
Motor Vehicle Theft	1,491	1,885	26%
Property Offense Total	9,790	9,980	2%
Total Index Offenses	11,476	11,471	-0%

How much has crime increased in Riverside?

In 2020, Riverside reported 11,471 total crimes, which is a 0% increase over 2019.

In 2020, Riverside reported 1,491 violent crimes, which is a 12% decrease over 2019.

In 2020, Riverside reported 20 murders, which is a 18% increase over 2019.

In 2020, Riverside reported 9,980 property crimes, which is a 2% increase over 2019.\

Areas to avoid in Riverside, CA

Casa Blanca, Arlanza and Eastside

Is Downtown Riverside safe?

Downtown Riverside is generally a safe area to visit day and night. It’s a very popular area that is usually filled with crowds of people and has a good police presence.

Is UC Riverside safe?

The campus of UC Riverside is generally safe however many students advised against leaving the university bubble when it gets dark. The mention that the further you stray away from the campus, the less safe it becomes.

Is the public transportation in Riverside safe?

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

The RTD 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.

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

"Riverside is safe but its just like any other city where there are some areas that should be avoided at night."
"There are far more good neighborhoods than bad ones in Riverside."
"If you compare Riverside to its neighboring cities, the difference is stark. San Bernardino and Rialto are cities in shambles with high crime rates. Riverside is the polar opposite."

Tips to stay safe while visiting Riverside

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.
Invest in a pepper spray and learn how to use it.

Facts about Riverside, CA

The population of Riverside in 2020 was 314,998 and is the 61st most populous city in the United States.
The city covers a land area of 81.23 square miles.
The median age was 30 years.
81.23 of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 24.1% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $72,738. The per capita income for the city was $27,144.
13.2% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in Riverside is $620,000 in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a Riverside 2-bedroom apartment is $2,135.