Violent Crime
New York has 56% less violent crime
New York records 319.6 violent incidents per 100k residents versus 499.5 in California (FBI UCR 2022).
Violent Crime Rate Comparison
Safety
California vs New York: Violent Crime Rate
New York has a lower violent crime rate than California.
California
CA • West
499.5
Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
New York
NY • Northeast
319.6
Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
Visual Comparison
California
499.5
New York
319.6
Difference: 179.9 per 100k — New York leads.
Safety Context
Economic and demographic factors behind the violent crime rate difference.
Safety
Poverty
California has a lower poverty rate
Economic stress and crime are closely tied. California's poverty rate is 12.0%, compared with 14.2% in New York.
View detailed comparisonIncome
California has higher household income
States with stronger median incomes tend to have lower crime rates. California leads at $84,097 vs $78,609 in New York.
View detailed comparisonPopulation Density
New York is more densely populated
Urban density often correlates with higher crime rates. New York is more densely populated at 370.3 per sq mi vs 241.5 in California.
View detailed comparisonSafety Snapshot
California
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
499.5
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
12.0%
Median household income
$84,097
Population density
241.5 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
5.5%
New York
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
319.6
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
14.2%
Median household income
$78,609
Population density
370.3 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
4.6%
What Stands Out
- New York has the lower violent crime rate at 319.6 per 100k.
- California has the lower poverty rate.
- California has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
California vs New York: Violent Crime Rate in context
New York has a violent crime rate of 319.6, compared with 499.5 in California. Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
California
499.5
New York
319.6
Difference
179.9 per 100k
People Also Ask
California vs New York Violent Crime Rate — Common Questions
Q What is California's violent crime rate?
California's violent crime rate is 499.5.
Q What is New York's violent crime rate?
New York's violent crime rate is 319.6.
Q Which state has a lower violent crime rate — California or New York?
New York has a lower violent crime rate than California.
More Comparisons: California vs New York
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.