4 California Town Rank Among The ‘Most Dangerous’ In The US

California is famous for its beautiful scenery, warm weather, and wide range of cultures. The Golden State is mostly safe and peaceful, but not everywhere is. U.S. News & World Report made a list of the 25 most dangerous towns in the US based on the number of killings and property crimes that happened between 2022 and 2023. Four of these towns are in California. Here are the four towns and what makes them dangerous for both tourists and people who live there.

Bakersfield

It is the most dangerous place in California and the fourth most dangerous town in the US. Bakersfield is in the San Joaquin Valley and has a past of making oil, farming, and country music. But there is also a lot of serious crime there—1,298.3 crimes for every 100,000 people in 2020. Poverty, unemployment, gang activity, and drug dealing are some of the things that make Bakersfield a dangerous place to live.

Stockton

It is the second most dangerous city in California and the 12th most dangerous city in the US. Stockton is a port city on the San Joaquin River. It has a broad population and a lot of cultural history. But it also has social and economic problems, like poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and people who don’t finish high school. A lot of violent crime and property crime happen in Stockton. In 2020, those rates were 1,065.8 per 100,000 people for violent crime and 3,387.8 per 100,000 people for property crime.

Fresno

It’s the third most dangerous place in California and the 17th most dangerous city in the US. Fresno is a major center for farming, schooling, and business. It is the largest city in the Central Valley. But it also has many problems that cities do, like poverty, inequality, division, and a lack of opportunities. These things make Fresno a very dangerous place to live. In 2020, there were 797.1 serious crimes and 2,314.8 property crimes per 100,000 people.

San Francisco

It is the fourth most dangerous city in California and the twenty-first most dangerous city in the US. Millions of tourists and locals come to San Francisco every year to enjoy its landmarks, culture, and new ideas. It is one of the most famous and well-known towns in the world.

But it also has a bad side: a lot of property crimes happen there, mostly theft and break-ins. In 2020, there were 5,118.9 property crimes per 100,000 people in San Francisco. This was the most of any city in the 182 that U.S. News & World Report ranked2. In 2020, there were 654.3 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in San Francisco.

In Conclusion

There are many nice places to visit and live in California, but it also has some of the most dangerous towns in the country. A report from U.S. News & World Report lists Bakersfield, Stockton, Fresno, and San Francisco as some of the 25 cities in the US with the highest rates of violence and property crime. Poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and drug abuse are some of the social and economic problems in these places that make crime more likely. People who visit or live in these towns should be aware of the dangers and take steps to keep themselves and their things safe.