California Criminal Justice FAQ: How much do crime rates vary across California counties?

Crime Rates Vary Widely Among Large Counties

Among the counties with populations of 500,000, or more, San Joaquin had the highest crime rate in 2007, about 71 percent higher than the statewide rate. Ventura's rate was the lowest and was about 32 percent lower than the statewide rate.
Variations among county crime rates are probably explained by factors such as demography (areas with larger populations of young men tend to have higher crime rates), local economy, law enforcement resources, and degree of urbanization.
For more information on state and county crime rates, visit the Criminal Justice Statistics Center on the Department of Justice’s website.