Fullerton is nestled in northern Orange County, a short drive away from Irvine, and less than an hour away from LA. It is the definition of the perfect suburban city. It is safe and wonderful place to raise a family and there are plenty of things to do to stave away the boredom, including a thriving downtown area.
If you are thinking about visiting Fullerton 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 Fullerton safe?
Fullerton is a very safe city as indicated by its crime rates. In 2020, Fullerton had a violent crime rate of 294.35 per 100,000 residents, which is 26% less than the national average. Fullerton’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the state for a city with over 100,000 people. Fullerton’s crime rate is similar to Anaheim and Garden Grove.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Fullerton’s crime rate
Fullerton Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Fullerton PD and are for 2019 and 2020:
Fullerton police reported a total of 962 offenses in 2020, compared with 1,009 in 2019, which is a 5% year-over-year decrease.
|
2019 |
2020 |
% Change |
Homicide |
2 |
2 |
0% |
Rape |
80 |
58 |
-28% |
Robbery |
108 |
121 |
12% |
Aggravated Assaults |
183 |
241 |
32% |
VIOLENT CRIME TOTALS |
373 |
422 |
13% |
Burglary |
318 |
512 |
61% |
Larceny |
2,479 |
2,407 |
-3% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
360 |
418 |
16% |
Arson |
13 |
8 |
-38% |
PROPERTY CRIME TOTALS |
3,170 |
3,345 |
6% |
TOTAL CRIME |
3,543 |
3,767 |
6% |
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Fullerton reported 422 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 294.35 per 100,000 residents. Fullerton’s violent crime rate is 26% less than the national average.
Year over year violent crime increased 13%.
You have a 1 in 340 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Fullerton.
Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Fullerton in the last 11 years.
Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Fullerton reported 3,345 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,333.17 per 100,000 residents. Fullerton’s property crime rate is 19% higher than the national average.
Year over year property crime decreased 6%.
You have a 1 in 43 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Fullerton.
Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Murder Rate
In 2020 Fullerton reported 2 murders and had a murder rate of 1.4 per 100,000 residents. Fullerton’s murder rate is 78% less than the national average.
You have a 1 in 71,684 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Fullerton.
Fullerton crime map
Here’s a map showing you the location of all the violent crimes (murder, sexual assault and robbery) in Fullerton during the period of 6/30/2021 – 6/29/2022 – Community Crime Map
Fullerton’s crime rate vs other cities in California (2020)
Here’s how Fullerton’s crime rate compared to other cities in California. Fullerton had a similar crime rate to Irvine and Mission Viejo.
|
Population |
Violent Crime Rate |
San Bernardino |
222,101 |
1,366.05 |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
|
320,804 |
1,254.04 |
|
3,898,747 |
727.39 |
|
524,943 |
675.69 |
|
542,107 |
656.70 |
|
Costa Mesa | 110,750 | 591.42 |
873,965 |
556.89 |
|
466,742 |
501.99 |
|
403,455 |
497.45 |
|
Riverside | 314,998 | 473.34 |
Santa Ana | 310,227 | 436.6 |
1,013,240 |
431.78 |
|
Moreno Valley | 208,865 | 398.82 |
1,386,932 |
382.35 |
|
346,824 |
357.82 |
|
Garden Grove | 171,949 | 297.76 |
Fullerton | 143,367 | 294.35 |
San Clemente | 64,293 | 143.09 |
Mission Viejo | 95,638 | 74.24 |
Irvine | 272,694 | 64.2 |
Fullerton’s Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Fullerton’s violent crime rate is 10 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 |
Fullerton | 143,367 | 143.09 |
Is Downtown Fullerton safe?
Downtown Fullerton is generally a safe area during the day and at night. It is a well populated area and there is plenty of police around.
There and many bars, breweries, coffee shops and restaurants that are in walking distance of each other is a fun to spend a Friday or Saturday night.
Is the public transportation in Fullerton, CA safe?
The public transportation system in Fullerton 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 during the day and at night.
There is also an Amtrak station in Fullerton and is a safe way to travel to other areas of southern California. We advise that you be cautious when traveling late at night to cities where the crime rate is high, such as San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
Is Fullerton, CA safe at night?
Fullerton is generally a safe city at night. At night you should always stay in well populated areas and avoid walking through alleys or desolate areas. And as a woman you should also avoid walking far distance by yourself at night.
What do residents of Fullerton say about it’s safety?
- Fullerton is a safe city. Check out the crime rates, it is one of the lowest for a city of its size.
- I have lived in Fullerton for more than 25 years and I can confidently say the whole city is safe.
- As a 10 year resident I have never felt in any danger while living here. The biggest concern we have in the city is package thieves.
- Fullerton is completely safe. It’s a nice place to live and bring up a family.
- Fullerton is safe, there are lots of restaurants and bars in the downtown area.
- I really can’t think of any area in Fullerton that is sketchy or unsafe. There might be some transients around the train station but the police usually deal with them quickly.
- I was born and raised in Fullerton and I never had to worry about being safe or being home before dark because there was never any crime. I never had to worry about my car being unlocked or leaving the front door open because there was never any need to.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Fullerton, CA
- Avoid walking by yourself at night.
- Don’t walk through deserted or desolate areas at night. Stay in places that are well populated.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car. Put anything worth value in your trunk. Make your car as uninviting to thieves as possible.
- Always trust your intuition. If you think something is amiss, remove yourself from that situation.
- There’s no need to be courtesy to anyone that is making you feel uncomfortable.
- Wait a second or two when the light turns green before crossing the street or driving through the intersection.
Facts about Fullerton, CA
- The population of Fullerton in 2020 was 143,367.
- The city covers a land area of 22.42 sq mi.
- The median age was 33 years old.
- 89.7% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 42.9% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $85,471. The per capita income for the city was $38,064.
- 12.7% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Fullerton is $900K in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Fullerton 2-bedroom apartment is $2,850.