Malibu, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Malibu Crime & Safety

Is Malibu safe to live in or visit in 2026?

Yes — Malibu ranks as Very Safe with a city-wide safety rating of Grade A. Every single one of the 27 neighborhoods analyzed for the 2026 crime map earned a Grade A, meaning 100% of Malibu neighborhoods fall into the top safety tier. No neighborhoods received a B, C, D, or F grade. For context, the city's overall crime grade is B+, reflecting that while Malibu is exceptionally safe relative to national benchmarks, no community is entirely free of incidents. Areas like Malibu West (median household income: $248,684) and Escondido Beach (median household income: $205,434) consistently stand out as among the most secure pockets in the city.

What is the crime rate in Malibu compared to national averages?

Malibu's crime profile is well below national norms. With a population of just 12,280 spread across 238 residents per square mile, the city's low density naturally limits crime concentration. All 27 analyzed neighborhoods carry a Grade A safety rating, and the combined percentage of safe neighborhoods (Grade A or B) stands at 100% — a benchmark very few U.S. cities achieve. Property crimes such as vehicle theft and burglary represent the most common incident categories in coastal California communities of this type, but even these remain infrequent in Malibu relative to comparable cities. The city's median household income of $162,716 and median home value of $2,000,000 reflect an economic environment that correlates strongly with lower crime rates nationally.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Malibu?

All 27 neighborhoods in Malibu earned a Grade A in the 2026 analysis, making the entire city uniformly safe. That said, some neighborhoods stand out for their combination of safety grade, income levels, and community characteristics:

• Malibu West — Grade A | Population: 345 | Median Income: $248,684 (highest in the city)
• Malibu Park — Grade A | Population: 1,856 | Median Income: $198,364 (largest neighborhood analyzed)
• Escondido Beach — Grade A | Population: 109 | Median Income: $205,434
• Sycamore Park — Grade A | Population: 135 | Median Income: $205,434
• Malibu Cove Colony — Grade A | Population: 24 | Median Income: $205,434
• El Nido — Grade A | Population: 412 | Median Income: $188,281
• Paradise Cove — Grade A | Population: 115 | Median Income: $151,331

Notably, Malibu Cove Colony and Latigo Beach are among the smallest communities (populations of 24 and 26, respectively), which contributes to their tight-knit, low-incident environments.

Which Malibu neighborhoods have relatively higher crime activity?

Even Malibu's comparatively higher-crime areas are still rated Grade A — there are no D or F neighborhoods anywhere in the city. The data flags Latigo Canyon, Malibu Park, and Point Dume as the areas with the most activity relative to other Malibu neighborhoods. Malibu Park is the most populous neighborhood analyzed at 1,856 residents, which naturally increases the raw number of reported incidents even when the per-capita rate remains low. Point Dume, with a population of 1,677 and a median income of $146,651, is one of the more densely populated coastal stretches and sees slightly more incident reports than ultra-small enclaves like Malibu Country Estates (population: 28). Importantly, all three of these areas still carry Grade A ratings — they are simply the most active within an overwhelmingly safe city.

Is Malibu a good place to live for families?

Malibu consistently ranks as one of the most family-friendly coastal cities in California based on safety data alone. With 100% of neighborhoods graded A, families can choose virtually any part of the city without compromising on safety. The city's unemployment rate of 4.1% and median household income of $162,716 signal economic stability, while the poverty rate of 11% — though higher than the median income might suggest — reflects some income diversity within the community. Neighborhoods like Malibu Park (income: $198,364, population: 1,856) offer the largest residential community feel, while Point Dume (income: $146,651, population: 1,677) provides a more accessible price point relative to Malibu norms. Median rent of $2,743 and median home values of $2,000,000 reflect the premium placed on living in this safe, scenic community.

How does Malibu's Grade B+ overall crime grade relate to its Grade A neighborhood ratings?

This is a common question. The city-wide overall crime grade of B+ is a composite measure that weighs Malibu's crime counts against national and statewide benchmarks across all crime categories — including property crime, violent crime, and quality-of-life offenses. The neighborhood-level Grade A ratings reflect how each specific area compares within Malibu and the broader regional context. Think of the B+ as Malibu's national report card and the A grades as the city's internal consistency score. The fact that all 27 neighborhoods — 100% — earned Grade A means there is no weak link within the city. The B+ overall grade acknowledges that even low-crime coastal cities still record some incidents, particularly property crimes common to high-value real estate markets, but it in no way contradicts Malibu's status as a Very Safe community.