Lawndale, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Lawndale, CA

Is Lawndale, CA safe?

Lawndale earns an overall crime grade of C, placing it in a moderate safety tier relative to other California cities of comparable size. That grade reflects a community that is neither among the most dangerous nor the safest in Los Angeles County. Roughly 12% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate sits at 7.1% — both factors that researchers consistently link to elevated property-crime risk. That said, the vast majority of Lawndale's 32,533 residents go about their daily lives without incident. Staying aware of your surroundings, especially after dark along busier commercial corridors, is the most practical step you can take to stay safe here.

What is the crime rate in Lawndale?

Lawndale's crime profile earns a composite grade of C — meaning crime levels are above the national median but not extreme. Property crime is the dominant driver of that grade; theft-related incidents account for a disproportionate share of total reports compared to violent offenses. To put the local economy in context, the median household income is $65,923 against a median home value of $549,147 and a median rent of $1,564 — a cost-of-living squeeze that can contribute to opportunistic property crime. Violent crime exists but remains a smaller slice of the overall incident mix. Checking the interactive crime map on this page filters incidents by type and date so you can see the current ratio of property crimes to violent crimes in any given week.

What are the safest areas in Lawndale?

Because Lawndale spans just over 5 square miles at a density of roughly 6,369 people per square mile, neighborhood-level differences matter a great deal. Residential blocks in the northwestern quadrant of the city — away from the highest-traffic commercial strips — tend to show fewer reported incidents on the crime map. Areas near Lawndale Park and the streets surrounding the Civic Center corridor historically attract more foot traffic and community oversight, which acts as a natural deterrent to opportunistic crime. Blocks closer to the major arterials that border the city tend to see a higher concentration of vehicle break-ins and theft reports. Use the map's heat-layer feature to compare incident density block by block before making any housing or commuting decisions.

Is Lawndale a good place to live in 2026?

Whether Lawndale suits you depends heavily on your priorities. On the positive side, the median home value of $549,147 is considerably lower than many neighboring South Bay communities, and the median rent of $1,564 offers relative affordability for the Los Angeles metro. The median household income of $65,923 supports a middle-income lifestyle, and the city's dense, walkable layout — 6,369 residents per square mile — means amenities are close. On the cautionary side, a C crime grade, a 7.1% unemployment rate, and a 12% poverty rate are real considerations. Families and individuals who engage with neighborhood watch programs and use tools like this crime map to stay situationally aware consistently report higher satisfaction with life in Lawndale than those who move in without researching local patterns first.

What types of crime are most common in Lawndale?

Property crime — including vehicle theft, auto burglary, and theft from commercial and residential properties — represents the largest share of incidents reported in Lawndale. This pattern is consistent with the city's C overall crime grade and mirrors trends seen across densely populated, moderate-income communities in Los Angeles County. Vandalism and graffiti reports also appear regularly in the data, particularly along high-traffic corridors. Violent crimes such as assault occur but make up a notably smaller percentage of total incidents. The interactive crime map on this page lets you filter by category — select "theft" or "burglary" to see current hotspots, or toggle to "assault" to assess violent-crime concentration in any specific part of the city.

How does Lawndale's crime compare to nearby cities?

With a crime grade of C, Lawndale sits in the middle of the pack when benchmarked against other South Bay and Los Angeles County municipalities. Cities with stronger economic indicators — lower poverty rates, higher median incomes — tend to score in the B or A range, while communities facing more acute economic stress often fall into D or F territory. Lawndale's 12% poverty rate and 7.1% unemployment rate place it closer to the challenging end of that spectrum, but its relatively compact geography and active community policing help prevent conditions from deteriorating further. Comparing crime maps across neighboring cities is the most data-driven way to put Lawndale's C grade into meaningful local context.