What are California’s safest cities? What to know about crime in the Golden State

A Placer County city ranked among the safest in California, according to a new analysis of per capita crime rates.

Lincoln placed third on Safewise’s 2026 list of the state’s safest cities.

The report examined FBI crime data for 169 California cities, measuring violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents.

“No other characterization of any community is implied or intended,” Safewise said. The report analyzed crime rates for 169 California cities.

LIncoln, with a population of about 56,000, recorded a violent crime rate of 1.2 and a property crime rate of 7 per 1,000 people in 2025, the study found.

Statewide, California reported a violent crime rate of 4.24 and a property crime rate of 20.84 per capita, both slightly below national averages.

Lincoln’s local data, released last month, showed crime continuing to decline.

The city saw an 8% drop in crime in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive annual decrease, according to the Lincoln Police Department’s annual report.

Reported major crimes — including homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, vehicle theft and arson — fell from about 600 cases in 2020 to 342 in 2025.

Police Chief Matt Alves attributed the trend to staffing increases and technology investments.

“Our police officers, dispatchers, and support staff work tirelessly every day to ensure Lincoln is a safe and flourishing city,” Alves said.

Police responded to 10,367 calls for service in 2025 and handled 7,018 officer-initiated incidents, the report said. Officers made 962 arrests and conducted 3,918 traffic stops.

The department also pointed to new tools, including license plate reader cameras that contributed to 39 arrests, and grant-funded upgrades such as an electronic citation system.

Alves said the department plans to continue expanding its approach.

“We are committed to upholding the high standards we have established and will persistently seek innovative ways to serve our residents and eliminate crime in Lincoln,” he said.

What are California’s other safest cities?

The safest city in California in 2026 is Danville, which is about 30 miles east of San Francisco, Safewise said.

Danville dethroned Rancho Santa Margarita for the top spot. The Southern California city fell to second place on the list, just ahead of Lincoln.

Other top safest cities in California, as ranked by the study, include Moorpark, Yorba Linda, Calexico, Poway, Laguna Niguel, San Ramon and Thousand Oaks, Safewise said.

This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 12:14 PM.