Palm Springs is a popular resort town located 100 miles east of Los Angeles and was once known as ‘Hollywood’s Playground’, where the stars would go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.
It’s a town where you can sit by the pool, sip on a cocktail, get some sun and relax among the idyllic palm trees.
If you are thinking about visiting Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs safe?
Statistically speaking, Palm Springs is a moderately safe city as indicated by its crime rates. In 2020, Palm Springs had a violent crime rate of 576.56 per 100,000 residents, which is 45% greater than the national average.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Palm Springs’ crime rate
Palm Springs’ Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Palm Springs PD and are for 2019 and 2020:
Palm Springs police reported a total of 1,956 offenses in 2020, compared with 2,237 in 2019, which is a 13 percent year-over-year decrease.
2019
2020
Percent Change
Homicide
7
5
-29%
Rape
38
27
-29%
Robbery
66
59
-11%
Aggravated Assault
156
166
6%
Violent Crime Total
267
257
-4%
Burglary
502
370
-26%
Larceny/Theft
1,210
1,050
-13%
Motor Vehicle Theft
254
270
6%
Arson
4
9
125%
Property Crimes Total
1,970
1,699
-14%
TOTAL
2,237
1,956
-13%
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Palm Springs reported 257 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 576.56 per 100,000 residents. Palm Springs’s violent crime rate is 45% greater than the national average.
Year over year violent crime decreased 4%.
You have a 1 in 173 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Palm Springs.
Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Palm Springs reported 1,699 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 3,811.55 per 100,000 residents. Palm Springs’s property crime rate is nearly 2x greater than the national average.
Year over year property crime decreased 14%.
You have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Palm Springs.
Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Murder Rate
In 2020 Palm Springs reported 5 murders and had a murder rate of 11.22 per 100,000 residents. Palm Springs murder rate is 72% greater than the national average.
You have a 1 in 8915 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Palm Springs.
Palm Springs’ crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)
Here’s how Palm Springs’ crime rate compared to other cities in California. Palm Springs had a similar crime rate to Fresno and San Francisco.
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Palm Springs’ violent crime rate is 5 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
Palm Springs
44,575
576.56
Areas to avoid in Palm Springs
North Palm Springs
Desert Highland Gateway Estates
4th to 8th Streets in Desert Hot Springs
Dream Homes
Is Downtown Palm Springs safe?
Downtown Palm Spring is a safe area during the day and at night. There is usually a good amount of people and police around. The only thing you really have to worry about are drunk people stumbling out of bars being obnoxious and possibly trying to pick fights.
Is the public transportation in Palm Springs safe?
The public transportation system in Palm Springs is handled by the Sunline Transit Agency, which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The STA is generally a safe option to use during normal commuting areas (6am – 7pm). Outside of those hours, we recommend that you take a taxi or use a ride sharing service to get around town.
Is Palm Springs safe at night?
Palm Springs is generally a safe city at night as long as you avoid wandering into the not so great areas mentioned above.
At night, you should avoid walking by yourself and you should also stay in well lit areas and avoid walking through desolate areas.
Is Palm Springs safe for a solo traveler?
Palm Springs is safe for all travelers, including female solo travelers!
If you visit Palm Springs 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).
What do residents of Palm Springs say about it’s safety?
As an older resident, I feel save in virtually every part of Palm Springs in the daytime, however I would NOT walk alone anywhere in PS at night.
Palm Springs is safe. We have one of the best police departments in the country and our police do a tremendous job.
The northern part of Palm Springs should be avoided. The area that is known as ‘Desert Highland Gateway Estates’. It is probably the worst area in Palm Springs.
In terms of good and bad areas, stay out of North Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and parts of Cathedral City. Stay in South Palm Springs and you should be good.
Much of North Palm Springs should be avoided. The Gateway area in particular.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Palm Springs
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t walk around with your head buried in your phone or headphones.
Always keep an eye on your drink. Don’t accept drink from strangers and if you do, make sure it comes directly from the bartender.
Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your car. Take them with you or put it in the trunk.
Keep an eye on your belongings while at the beach.
Trust your gut. Walk away if something or someone doesn’t give you a good feeling.
Don’t walk in desolate and deserted areas at night. Stay in well populated and well traffic areas.
Avoid walking through North Palm Springs at night.
Facts about Palm Springs, CA
The population of Palm Springs in 2020 was 44,575.
The city covers a land area of 94.54 sq mi.
The median age was 51.6 years.
92.3% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 42.1% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,916. The per capita income for the city was $49,987.
16.4% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in Palm Springs is $700,000 in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a Palm Springs 2-bedroom apartment is $2,400.
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