El Segundo is midwestern town that somehow ended up in Los Angeles. Residents call it the ‘Mayberry of LA’ and while this quiet city is often overlooked by traveleres and even Angelenos, there is an abundance of things to see, do, hear and eat here.
If you are thinking about visiting El Segundo 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 El Segundo safe?
Statistically speaking, El Segundo is a moderately safe city as indicated by its crime rates. In 2020, El Segundo had a violent crime rate of 660.03 per 100,000 residents, which is 66% greater than the national average. El Segundo’s crime rate is similar to Sacramento, Fresno and San Francisco.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on El Segundo’ crime rate
El Segundo’s Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the El Segundo PD and are for 2019 and 2020:
El Segundo police reported a total of 890 offenses in 2020, compared with 708 in 2019, which is a 26 percent year-over-year decrease.
2019
2020
Percent Change
Homicide
0
0
0%
Rape
5
11
120%
Robbery
30
31
3%
Aggravated Assault
47
72
53%
Violent Crime Total
82
114
39%
Burglary
164
172
5%
Larceny/Theft
387
446
15%
Motor Vehicle Theft
74
157
112%
Arson
1
1
0%
Property Crimes Total
626
776
24%
TOTAL
708
890
26%
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 El Segundo reported 114 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 660.03 per 100,000 residents. El Segundo’s violent crime rate is 66% greater than the national average.
Year over year violent crime increased 39% and aggravated assaults accounted for more than 60 percent of the violent crime total.
You have a 1 in 152 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in El Segundo.
Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in El Segundo over an 11 year period. Violent crime has increased 235% since 2010.
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 El Segundo reported 776 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 4,492.82 per 100,000 residents. El Segundo’s property crime rate is nearly 2.3x greater than the national average.
Year over year property crime increased 26%.
You have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in El Segundo.
Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Murder Rate
In 2020 El Segundo reported 0 murders and had a murder rate of 0 per 100,000 residents.
El Segundo’s crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)
Here’s how El Segundo’ crime rate compared to other cities in California. El Segundo 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. El Segundo’ violent crime rate is 4.4 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
El Segundo
17,272
660.03
Is Downtown El Segundo safe?
Downtown El Segundo is very 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 El Segundo safe?
The public transportation system in El Segundo is handled by the LA Metro (Metro) and Beach Cities Transit (BCT), which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The Metro and the BCT 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 El Segundo safe at night?
El Segundo 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 El Segundo safe for a solo traveler?
El Segundo is safe for all travelers, including female solo travelers!
If you visit El Segundo 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 El Segundo say about it’s safety?
I live in El Segundo and have never felt unsafe. I walk to and from the bars and restaurants at night with no problems. Just for reference, I am male.
El Segundo west of Sepulveda Blvd / Pacific Coast Highway and north of the Chevron facility is a nice area, a quaint, very small town, isolated feel to it which is quite unusual for LA.
El Segundo is quite peaceful and quiet. Really nice place to raise your kids.
I lived here since 2010 and it has a small town vibe. It’s like the Mayberry of LA County. It feel like we are in a bubble that is apart from Los Angeles, a buble of civility and quiet repose.
I would say it is one of the safest communities in LA. We have our own police deparment that is separate from LAPD and they are paid very well to keep the city safe.
El Segundo has a sleepy, small town quality that is unlike any of the neighboring cities like Hawthorne, Torrance or Hermosa and Manhattan Beach.
El Segundo is very well policed and crime is low here. They are prompt when you need them, unlike the LAPD.
Tips to stay safe while visiting El Segundo
Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t let your guard down. Scan the area and don’t wander around aimlessly with your head buried in your phone.
Walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target individuals who look lost and unsure of themselves.
Mind your own business. If you see some illicit activies going on, don’t make eye contact and leave the area in a manner that secures your safety.
Don’t walk in desolate areas where no one is around at night. Stay in places with there are a lot of people around.
Don’t leave valuables in your car. Make your car as untempting as possible for thieves.
Park in well lit areas at night or consider parking in a parking garage.
Facts about El Segundo, CA
The population of El Segundo in 2020 was 17,272.
The city covers a land area of 5.46 sq mi.
The median age was 39.2 years.
97.1% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 55.8% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $115,846. The per capita income for the city was $58,570.
5.0% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in El Segundo is $1.75M in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a El Segundo 2-bedroom apartment is $2,750.
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