Pacific Grove, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Pacific Grove, CA

Is Pacific Grove safe?

Pacific Grove ranks as one of the safest small cities on California's Central Coast. Across all 17 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 100% fall within the safe category — no neighborhood received a C, D, or F grade. An overwhelming 88.2% of neighborhoods earned a top-tier Grade A, while the remaining 11.8% received a Grade B. The city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A), and the overall crime grade for Pacific Grove is B+. Neighborhoods like Sunset Drive, Beach Tract / Fairway Homes, and Country Club Gate / Forest Grove exemplify this strong safety profile, each holding a Grade A rating. Even the relatively higher-crime areas — such as Seaview (Grade B) and First Addition (Grade A-) — remain comfortably within safe thresholds. For families, retirees, and anyone prioritizing security, Pacific Grove's data makes a compelling case.

What is the crime rate in Pacific Grove?

Pacific Grove's crime picture is notably positive by any measure. The city earned an overall crime grade of B+, and when broken down by neighborhood, 88.2% of the 17 areas analyzed received a Grade A — the highest possible safety tier. The remaining 11.8% received a Grade B, meaning not a single neighborhood fell below a safe rating. The city's low poverty rate of 5.6% and relatively modest unemployment rate of 5.6% correlate with reduced crime pressure across the community. Property crimes — particularly opportunistic theft — tend to be the most common incident type in coastal California towns of this profile, and Pacific Grove is no exception; however, the frequency remains low enough that the vast majority of neighborhoods hold Grade A status. Areas like Downtown Pacific Grove (Grade A-) and Del Monte Park (Grade A-) show slightly more activity than top-rated zones but still perform well above state and national averages for cities of comparable size and density (2,084 residents per square mile).

What are the safest neighborhoods in Pacific Grove?

Fifteen of Pacific Grove's 17 analyzed neighborhoods carry a Grade A safety rating, giving residents a wide range of secure options. Here's how the top performers break down by key data points:

• Beach Tract / Fairway Homes — Grade A, population 1,676, median income $118,841 (highest income among all neighborhoods)
• Sunset Drive — Grade A, population 968, median income $114,657
• Country Club Gate / Forest Grove — Grade A, population 687, median income $100,419
• Hillcrest — Grade A, population 336, median income $98,053
• Country Club Heights — Grade A, population 153, median income $98,053
• Pacific Grove Acres — Grade A, population 1,214, median income $98,113
• Fifth Addition — Grade A, population 1,120, median income $90,755
• Third Addition — Grade A, population 1,181, median income $90,294
• Downtown Pacific Grove — Grade A-, population 538, median income $90,119
• Pacific Grove Retreat — Grade A-, population 988, median income $79,324

The correlation between higher median household incomes and top safety grades is consistent throughout the data. Beach Tract / Fairway Homes and Sunset Drive stand out as the strongest combination of large population, high income, and Grade A safety.

Which neighborhoods in Pacific Grove have higher crime?

Even Pacific Grove's relatively higher-crime neighborhoods remain safe by broader standards. Seaview is the only neighborhood to receive a Grade B — the lowest grade assigned anywhere in the city. Four additional neighborhoods — Del Monte Park, Asilomar Dunes, First Addition, and Second Addition — each hold a Grade A-, placing them just below the top tier but well within safe territory. It is worth noting that none of these areas received a C grade or lower, meaning that even in Pacific Grove's most active zones, crime levels are substantially below what most California cities experience. Residents in these neighborhoods should still practice standard precautions — securing vehicles, reporting suspicious activity — but the data does not indicate elevated risk by any meaningful benchmark.

Is Pacific Grove a good place to live?

The data strongly supports Pacific Grove as a high-quality place to live. Consider the key figures: a median household income of $89,088, a median home value of $892,510, and a median rent of $1,952 — all reflecting a prosperous, stable community. The poverty rate sits at just 5.6%, and the unemployment rate matches at 5.6%, both relatively contained for a California coastal city. On the safety side, 100% of neighborhoods analyzed scored in the safe range, with 88.2% achieving a Grade A. The city's population of 15,471 keeps it small enough for genuine community cohesion while still offering amenities. Whether you're drawn by the Victorian architecture, the Monterey Bay coastline, or the consistently safe neighborhoods like Third Addition and Pacific Grove Acres, the combination of economic stability and low crime makes Pacific Grove one of the more compelling residential options on the Central Coast.