Martinez is 38th in a survey of California’s 50 safest cities that used Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics in its analysis.
The list was made by SafeWise, an online safety resource that provides reviews and other information about communities and annually releases its “safest cities” reports. This newest report was released Friday.
The report used the most recent FBI crime statistics, which date to 2016, as well as population data for the company’s evaluation of reported violent crimes, such as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery per 1,000 people in a population.
Danville came out on top as the safest city, with the lowest violent crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 96 percent lower than the national average. It reported 8.13 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
Murrieta, San Ramon, Irvine, Aliso Viejo, Yorba Linda, Lincoln, Rancho Palos Verdes, Chino Hills and Mission Viejo rounded out the top 10 safest cities.
Martinez, with a population of 38,541, had 1.32 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, representing 5,94 percent of the total crimes reported in the city. The report said Martinez had 22.26 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
Nearby Walnut Creek was ranked 23rd. Oakley was 42nd. Other Bay Area cities making the list were Menlo Park, 11th; Foster City, 12th; Sunnyvale, 17th; Central Marin, 19th; Palo Alto, 20th; Cupertino, 27th; Milpitas, 29th; Pleasanton, 30th; Santa Clara, 31st; Novato, 45th; and Dublin, 46th.
When the statistics produced a tie, the company used the number of property crimes – burglary, arson, larceny, theft and car thefts – to establish the list order.
“We were impressed to find California’s 50 safest cities reported an average of just one violent crime for every 1,000 people,” said Alexia Chianis, SafeWise security analyst. “That’s 80 percent lower than the United States average, according to the most recent FBI crime report.”
Of the cities on the list, 31 of the safest cities were in Southern California, and 19 were in Northern California. While Northern California cities report more property crimes, the number of their violent crimes are lower, the report said.
“Property crime rates were also quite low, with well over half the cities reporting fewer than 20 crimes of this type per 1,000 people,” she said.
The report is available online at https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-california/.
