Huntington Beach is a beach side city in Orange County that is home to 10 miles of pristine beaches. It’s a surfers paradise and it’s a city that caters to anyone looking for a relaxed and chill environment.
If you are thinking about visiting Huntington Beach and have qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered. We deep dived into the statistics, crime rates and talked to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe the safe the city really is.
Is Huntington Beach safe?
Huntington Beach is a very safe city as indicated by its crime rates, which are below the national average. In 2020, Huntington Beach had a violent crime rate of 246.77 per 100,000 residents, which is 41% less than the national average and its property crime rate is on par with the national average.
The national average for violent crime is 366.7 per 100,000 residents and the national average for property crime is 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.
Huntington Beach crime rate is similar to cities like Chula Vista, Honolulu and Fremont. Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Huntington Beach’s crime rate:
Huntington Beach Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Huntington Beach PD and are for 2019 and 2020:
Huntington Beach police reported a total of 4,421 offenses in 2020, compared with 4,530 in 2019, which is a 2 percent year-over-year decrease.
|
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
Murder |
2 |
3 |
50% |
Rape |
61 |
70 |
15% |
Robbery |
99 |
107 |
8% |
Aggravated Assault |
224 |
313 |
40% |
Violent Offense Total |
386 |
493 |
28% |
Burglary |
535 |
480 |
-10% |
Larceny |
3,280 |
3,007 |
-8% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
329 |
441 |
34% |
Property Offense Total |
4,144 |
3,928 |
-5% |
Total Index Offenses |
4,530 |
4,421 |
-2% |
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Huntington Beach reported 493 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 246.77 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Year over year violent crime has increased 28%.
You have a 1 in 405 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Huntington Beach.
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Huntington Beach reported 3,928 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 1,966.18 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Year over year property crime has decreased 5%.
You have a 1 in 51 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Huntington Beach.
Murder Rate
In 2020 Huntington Beach reported 3 murders and had a murder rate of 1.5 per 100,000 residents.
Year over year murders has increased 50%.
You have a 1 in 66593 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach’s crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)
Here’s how Huntington Beach’s crime rate compared to other cities in California. Huntington Beach had the lowest crime rate for all cities listed.
|
Population |
Violent Crime Rate (2020) |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
|
320,804 |
1,254.04 |
|
3,898,747 |
727.39 |
|
524,943 |
675.69 |
|
542,107 |
656.70 |
|
873,965 |
556.89 |
|
466,742 |
501.99 |
|
403,455 |
497.45 |
|
1,013,240 |
431.78 |
|
1,386,932 |
382.35 |
|
346,824 |
357.82 |
|
Huntington Beach | 199,778 |
246.77 |
Huntington Beach’s Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Huntington Beach’s violent crime rate is nearly 12 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 people |
Monroe |
47,702 |
2,932.79 |
Memphis |
633,104 |
2,418.24 |
Atlantic City |
38,497 |
2,335.25 |
Saginaw |
44,202 |
2,327.95 |
Detroit |
639,111 |
2,248.44 |
St. Louis |
301,578 |
1,995.17 |
Alexandria |
45,275 |
1,877.42 |
Pine Bluff |
41,253 |
1,808.35 |
Little Rock |
202,591 |
1,805.11 |
Milwaukee |
577,222 |
1,733.13 |
South Bend |
103,453 |
1,706.09 |
Cleveland |
372,624 |
1,689.10 |
Camden |
71,791 |
1,632.52 |
Birmingham |
200,733 |
1,577.22 |
Kansas City |
508,090 |
1,558.58 |
Baltimore |
585,708 |
1,460.11 |
Albuquerque |
564,559 |
1,406.41 |
Chattanooga |
181,099 |
1,382.67 |
San Bernardino |
222,101 |
1,365.59 |
New Orleans |
383,997 |
1,358.08 |
Oakland |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
Huntington Beach |
199,778 |
246.77 |
Areas to avoid in Huntington Beach
Generally speaking, Huntington Beach is a fairly safe city with little to no bad areas. However there is an area known to residents as the ‘Slater Slums‘, which is a low income housing neighborhood. While the neighborhood isn’t inherently dangerous, it is not a place you should be walking around at night by yourself.
Is the public transportation in Huntington Beach safe?
The public transportation system in Huntington Beach is handled by the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA), which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The OCTA is generally a safe option to use and you shouldn’t have any problelms while using the service.
Is Huntington Beach safe at night?
There is almost nowhere in Huntington Beach that is genuinely unsafe and suffice to say, Huntington Beach is generally a safe city at night. The only area that you should avoid walking around at night is the Slater Slums.
Even though Huntington Beach is a very safe city, you should always keep your wits about you and always be aware of your surroundings.
Is Huntington Beach safe for a solo traveler?
Huntington Beach is safe for all travelers, including female solo travelers! If you visit Huntington Beach alone you’ll be plenty safe if you practice common sense when it comes to safety (i.e. avoid walking alone at night, locking up your vehicles, and keeping an eye on your things belongings).
(Related: The 19 Best Huntington Beach Restaurants In 2022)
What do residents of Huntington Beach say about it’s safety?
- "Huntington Beach is very safe. I’ve lived here all my life and never felt in danger once."
- "There’s no place in Huntington where I feel unsafe. The only area that I think is remotely sketchy is Slater Slums, however its nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be."
- "Huntington Beach is pretty damn safe and people around here don’t really fear for their safety.”
- "I’ve never felt unsafe around here. You’ll usually see a few homeless people near the beach and the downtown area but they usually keep to themselves."
- "The biggest threat to your safety in Huntington Beach is a drunk idiot who’s had one too many drinks and wants to fight you for some stupid reason. Downtown is a hotbed for these drink idiots."
- "The worst parts of Huntington in no way compares to the worst parts of any major metropolitan city and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise."
- "Avoid Main St on weekend nights. It’s full of drunken bros who are looking to start a fight."
Tips to stay safe while visiting Huntington Beach
- 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.
- Always keep an eye on your drink. Only accept a drink from a stranger if it comes directly from the bartender.
- Always keep an eye on your belongings.
- 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 Huntington Beach, CA
- The population of Huntington Beach in 2020 was 199,778 and is the 23rd most populous city in California.
- The city covers a land area of 27square miles.
- The median age was 40.2 years.
- 93.1% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 43.6% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $97,469. The per capita income for the city was $50,625.
- 7.9% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Huntington Beach is $1.2M in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Huntington Beach 2-bedroom apartment is $2,895.