California is one of the most popular and also populous states in the United States. Being home to some of the most popular cities in the world and also to one of the biggest movie industries in the world, Hollywood, there is no surprise in the large number of people living in the state.
California has everything to offer and it is one of the reasons why people choose to settle down there. Cities like Los Angeles and also the California Bay area are two of the most populous urban areas in the country.
The state is blessed with some of the best and most popular cities in the world like Los Angeles and the home of movies, Hollywood. Almost every city in California is known for the development and improvements they have in different fields and also for the high standard of living in these cities.
But just like anywhere, as the number of residents keeps increasing, there are bound to be different problems in that too. While some of the cities are known for the good things that they have to offer, there are some cities that are known for things that are not seen as good or inviting.
There are a few cities in the cities that can be seen as some of the most difficult cities in the states to live in due to their increased number of crimes and other violent activities.
Here we have a list of 8 cities in California that are deemed dangerous and not our first choice for settling in the state. So if you are in California and are visiting any of these 8 cities, we just want you to be more aware and cautious. So, here is our list of the 8 worst cities in California.
8 Worst Cities In California Latest List
- Modesto
- Merced
- Richmond
- San Bernardino
- Stockton
- Stockton
- Bakersfield
- Oakland
- Emeryville
8. Modesto
Located in the Central Valley, Modesto is the 8th worst city in California on our list of 8 worst cities in California. Modesto is the largest city in Stanislaus County and is the 19th largest city in the state of California.
The city of Modesto is surrounded by rich farmlands and the agricultural production of the city is one of the biggest ways of revenue generation around the area. Being one of the largest cities in the county, the city is said to be home to around 219,000 people. What puts Modesto on the list of worst cities is the crime rate of the city which is around 37% higher than the national average. The city has a crime rate of 32.24 per 1,000 people.
The crime rates are very high in the city and Modesto is also infamous for the number of thefts that happen in and around the city. The city had been listed as the city with the highest number of recorded car thefts in the country in the past.
As per the reports of the FBI, there had been over 5,000 reported cases of property crimes and also more than 1,600 violent crime incidents. In most of these dangerous cities, the rent or rate of the property will be considerably low. So make sure you look into the details of the city before deciding to settle there.
7. Merced
Coming in at number 7 on our list of the 8 worst cities in California is the city of Merced. The city is located in the Merced County of California and is also the County Seat. The exact location of the city is in the San Joaquin Valley and the city was named after the Merced River that flowed through the valley.
The city is also a popular one and has a reputation for being one of the most violent and dangerous cities in California. There had been a number of attacks and violent events that took place in the city that have caused over 13 fatalities within a short span of two years.
The total population of Merced is estimated to be around 86,333. With such a high number of people living together in a city, there are great chances that you will become the victim of a violent attack that takes place in the city.
The crime rate of Mercedes is 599 per 1,000 people, which is high for a normal city. The city gathered the reputation of being one of the most violent cities in the states way back in the 1990s, making the city historically ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in California. Also, it is alarming to note that there has been a sharp rise in the number of violent crimes in the city of Merced.
6. Richmond
Richmond is one of the worst cities in California and is located east of another major city of the state, San Francisco. Richmond is located in Contra Costa County of California and is regarded as the 6th worst city in California.
The city is deemed to be the worst based on some of the factors like crime rates, the number of violent acts, and other events that are considered a threat to human life or property.
The city of Richmond is estimated to have a population of around 110,567. The crime rate in the city has seen an alarming increase in recent times and it is currently said to be around 82%. The number goes way past the national average, making Richmond one of the most unsafe and dangerous cities in California.
Even though the city has a very high crime rate, people tend to choose Richmon to settle in due to the fact that the city is located close to San Francisco. While it is not easy to get an affordable accommodation facility in San Francisco, it is much easier to find an affordable place in Richmond to stay.
Even though the lower price of a living may attract people, you should never overlook the fact that the place is not safe as there had been years when the crime rate of the city was around 149% higher than the national average.
5. San Bernardino
San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino County and is the 18th largest city in California. With a very high population in and around the area, the crime rate of the city is also quite high, making it one of the most unsafe and worst cities in California.
The total population of San Bernardino is around 222,101. Like the big number in terms of population, the crime rate of the city is also quite high. San Bernardino is said to have a crime rate that is almost 79% higher than the national average, making it the 5th worst city in California.
According to the crimes that have been reported from the area, San Bernardino has seen a rise in violent crimes like robbery and murder. The number has risen from around 2017 by around 39% until a year back.
There had also been an increase in aggravated assaults by around 145%. By taking all these factors and the percentage of the increase in the crime rates, San Bernardino is without a doubt, the worst city to live in California.
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4. Stockton
Located in the San Joaquin County of California, the city of Stockton is also the county seat of San Joaquin. In terms of its size, Stockton is the 11th largest city in California. For years, the city of Stockton has had the reputation of being one of the most dangerous cities in California.
The city had been regarded as one of the most dangerous and violent due to the increased number of violent crimes that are being committed in the city. Currently, the city of Stockton has an estimated population of around 320,804.
With the high number of violent crimes that have been reported over years, there is no question about the crime rate of the city and it is way above the national and state average, making Stockton one of the worst and most dangerous cities in California.
The town had been deemed dangerous years ago and has had a crime rate for years. With recent statistics, it is calculated that 1 in 79 people who live in the city has a chance of being a victim of a violent crime.
The major types of crimes reported in the city are of violent nature. The number of property crimes is also high, taking the number of reported cases into consideration.
3. Bakersfield
Going into the top three positions on our list of 8 worst cities in California, these are cities that have a reputation for being some of the most dangerous cities not only in California but in all of the country. Taking the top 3rd position on our list of 8 worst cities in California is the city of Bakersfield, located in Kern County.’
The city spreads over 151 sq mi near the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield is the 90th most populated city in California with an estimated population of 405,000.
The crime rate of the city is way past the national average and is calculated to be around 94% higher than the number, making it one of the most dangerous cities to settle down in. ‘ The city spreads over 151 sq mi near the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley.
Bakersfield is the 90th most populated city in California with an estimated population of 405,000. The crime rate of the city is way past the national average and is calculated to be around 94% higher than the number, making it one of the most dangerous cities to settle down in.
According to some of the reports from the local news channels, there had been a decrease in the number of homicides from previous years when comparing the number of cases in 2022.
Even though there has been a decree in the number of homicides, other crimes such as property crimes have an alarming rate. Most of the crimes committed in the city are attributed to the works of separate violent gangs that operate within the limits of the city. So, if you are ever around the city, make sure that you are careful enough.
2. Oakland
Oakland is a coyote located in the Alameda County of California and due to the location of the city, it is one of the most important cities on the West Coast. Oakland is the county seat of Alameda and is the eighth most populated city in California.
It is also one of the major ports on the west coast and is also the third largest city in the Bay area. Being a city with huge prominence and also a huge population, Oakland is also one of the worst cities in California which is infamous for its high chrome rate.
Currently, the total population of Oakland is estimated to be around 440,646 and the number of crimes committed in the city is also very high.
Oakland has been deemed a dangerous city for years and has been on the list of some of the most notorious cities in the county. While statistics show that there has been a decrease in the number of crimes in the city when compared to the 1990s, the crime rate is still very high above the national and state average. As per the latest statistics, the violent crime rate in Oakland was around 1,453 per 100,000 residents.
1. Emeryville
Emeryville, the city located in the Alameda County of California comes in at the top position on our list of the worst cities in California. While the city is known for other things like being the home of the popular animation movie studio Pixar, it is also known for being one of the most dangerous cities not only in California but in the country as well.
When compared to most of the cities on the list, the population of Emeryville is very low, which means that the number of crimes that are committed in the city is very large too. Currently, the estimated number of people living in the city is around only 12,905 but there is a lot of crime committed within the limits of the city.
As the population of the city is very low but has a high number of crimes, the citizens of the city have an increased risk of being the victim of a violent crime. Statistics show that there is a 1 in 15 chance for people to be the victim of a violent crime.
While there had been a slight decrease in the number of violent crimes in the city, the number of reported thefts in recent years had been very high, making Emeryville one of the most dangerous cities not only in California but in the United States as well.
Conclusion
Crimes and violent acts are natural in cities as there is an increased population but there are some cities that are deemed very dangerous for the people who live there. Here, we have looked at the 8 worst cities in California, where some have even gained national prominence for being one of the most dangerous cities in the whole country.
So if you are ever in California, make sure to keep a look out if you visit these cities. But if you are planning to settle in any of the above-mentioned cities, we strongly think that it is time you rethink your decision and take time to look into the criminal history of your preferred city. After all, it is your safety that comes before anything.
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