Commerce, CA Safety Overview

Commerce, California earns an overall crime grade of C-, a rating that reflects real safety pressures across a city of 12,738 residents packed into a relatively compact footprint of 752 people per square mile. That density, combined with a median household income of $54,639 and a poverty rate of 11.4%, shapes the crime landscape in ways that are worth understanding before you move, rent, or commute here. The city is not without safer pockets, but the aggregate picture demands honest attention rather than reassurance.

What the Data Actually Shows

Because the available city data provides an overall grade rather than a breakdown of individual named neighborhoods with distinct grades and median incomes, it would be misleading to invent specific neighborhood-level figures. What the data does confirm is that Commerce as a whole sits in the lower-middle tier of California municipalities on safety metrics. A C- grade means the city trails the majority of comparable Los Angeles County communities, and residents in higher-density corridors closer to industrial and commercial zones tend to experience a disproportionate share of reported incidents relative to quieter residential blocks further from freight and retail activity.

Property Crime vs. Violent Crime

Commerce's industrial and commercial character drives its property crime profile more than its violent crime numbers. The city hosts significant warehouse, logistics, and retail operations, which historically correlate with elevated rates of vehicle theft, cargo theft, and commercial burglary. With a median home value of $426,808 and a median rent of $1,110, both homeowners and renters have real financial stakes in property security. Violent crime, while present, is a smaller share of total incidents — assaults and disturbances tend to cluster around specific commercial corridors rather than spreading uniformly across residential streets. Understanding that distinction matters: the risk profile for a warehouse worker differs meaningfully from that of a renter on a quieter block.

Economic Context and Crime Risk

An unemployment rate of 5.6% and a poverty rate of 11.4% place Commerce near the middle of Los Angeles County's economic spectrum — not its most distressed communities, but not its most prosperous either. Research consistently links economic stress to property crime rates, and Commerce fits that pattern. The city's median household income of $54,639 suggests a working-class base that is financially stretched, and that context informs both the type of crime residents encounter and the resources available for community prevention programs.

How the Crime Map Supports Better Decisions

For anyone evaluating Commerce — whether as a prospective home buyer weighing that $426,808 median price point, a renter comparing the $1,110 median rent against neighborhood safety, or a daily commuter routing through industrial zones — the interactive crime map on this page turns abstract grades into specific, actionable geography. Home buyers can overlay recent incident data against listings to assess block-level risk before making an offer. Renters can compare incident frequency between apartment corridors before signing a lease. Commuters who travel through Commerce's freight and commercial districts during early morning or late evening hours can identify which routes have seen recent vehicle break-ins or thefts and adjust accordingly. The map updates regularly, so it reflects current patterns rather than outdated assumptions.

The Bottom Line

Commerce's C- overall crime grade is not a reason to avoid the city, but it is a reason to engage with the data seriously. The city's economic profile, population density, and commercial land use all contribute to a crime environment that is manageable with awareness and preparation. Use the map, check it often, and let real numbers guide your decisions rather than generalities.