Laguna Beach, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Laguna Beach

Is Laguna Beach safe?

Yes — Laguna Beach ranks as one of the safest small cities in California. Our analysis of 32 neighborhoods produced an overall city-wide safety rating of A-, with a remarkable 93.8% of neighborhoods earning an A grade and the remaining 6.3% earning a B. Not a single neighborhood in Laguna Beach received a C, D, or F. That means 100% of analyzed neighborhoods fall into the "safe" category (A or B combined). Standout areas like Laguna Lido and Three Arch Bay earned A+ grades — the highest possible — while neighborhoods such as South Laguna Bluffs, Park Avenue Estates, and Top of the World all hold solid A ratings. Even the relatively busier areas like Main Beach and The Village, which see heavier tourist foot traffic, still grade out at A- and A respectively.

What is the crime rate in Laguna Beach compared to other cities?

Laguna Beach's overall crime grade of A- places it well above average compared to most U.S. cities and significantly above the California state norm. Across the 32 neighborhoods analyzed, 30 earned an A grade and 2 earned a B grade — a distribution that reflects an exceptionally low-crime environment. The city's demographic profile reinforces this: a median household income of $128,099, a poverty rate of just 6.2%, and a population density of only 998 residents per square mile all correlate with lower crime prevalence. The two neighborhoods that grade at B — rather than A — are still considered safe by national standards; their slightly elevated grades relative to the city reflect the natural variation you'd expect in any coastal tourist destination rather than any meaningful danger.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Laguna Beach?

Of the 32 neighborhoods analyzed, the top performers by safety grade are:

• Laguna Lido — Grade A+, median income $185,116
• Three Arch Bay — Grade A+, median income $198,083 (population 759)
• South Laguna Bluffs — Grade A, median income $167,230
• Park Avenue Estates — Grade A, median income $230,608 — the highest income of any neighborhood in the dataset
• Coast Royal — Grade A, median income $194,195
• Temple Hills — Grade A, median income $197,438 (population 1,095, one of the larger safe neighborhoods)
• Top of the World — Grade A, median income $209,898
• South Laguna Village — Grade A, median income $169,737
• Upper Diamond — Grade A, median income $160,796
• Lower Bluebird — Grade A, median income $150,562

A clear pattern emerges: the safest neighborhoods tend to carry median household incomes well above the city-wide median of $128,099, many exceeding $190,000. This income-safety correlation is consistent with research linking economic stability to lower property and violent crime rates.

Which areas of Laguna Beach have the most crime?

Even the "higher crime" areas of Laguna Beach are objectively safe by most measures. The neighborhoods with the highest relative crime grades in the city are Main Beach (Grade A-) and North Laguna, The Village, Woods Cove, and Arch Beach Heights (all Grade A). Main Beach's A- rating is the lowest in the city and likely reflects its role as the primary tourist hub — higher foot traffic naturally correlates with more reported incidents such as petty theft and minor disturbances. Importantly, an A- is still an excellent safety grade; it simply means that relative to Laguna Beach's extraordinarily safe baseline, this area sees marginally more activity. Visitors to Main Beach and The Village should take standard precautions — secure valuables, be aware of surroundings in crowded areas — but there is no data suggesting these neighborhoods pose elevated risk.

Is Laguna Beach a good place to live in 2026?

From a safety standpoint, the data strongly supports Laguna Beach as an excellent place to live. With 93.8% of neighborhoods graded A and 100% graded A or B, the city offers a level of safety that few communities of any size can match. Pair that with a median household income of $128,099, a median home value of approximately $1.88 million, and a poverty rate of 6.2%, and the picture is one of a prosperous, stable, low-crime coastal community. The unemployment rate of 7.5% is worth noting — it runs slightly above typical California coastal averages — but it has not translated into elevated crime across the city's neighborhoods. For families, retirees, and professionals seeking a high quality of life with genuine safety across virtually every zip code, Laguna Beach ranks among the most compelling options in Southern California.