San Rafael, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in San Rafael, CA

Is San Rafael safe to live in?

San Rafael earns a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) based on neighborhood-level crime analysis across all 10 districts studied. An impressive 90% of neighborhoods received a Grade A, and the remaining 10% received a Grade B — meaning not a single neighborhood fell below a B-. That places 100% of San Rafael's analyzed neighborhoods in the "safe" or "very safe" category. Top-performing areas like Peacock Gap (A+), Loch Lomond (A+), and Glenwood (A+) anchor the city's strong safety profile, while even the lowest-graded area, Downtown San Rafael (B-), remains well within safe parameters. For context, San Rafael's overall crime grade is C+ at the city level — reflecting some property crime activity typical of urban Marin County — but neighborhood-by-neighborhood, the picture is considerably brighter.

What is the crime rate in San Rafael, CA?

San Rafael's crime landscape is best understood through its neighborhood grade distribution rather than a single citywide number. Across the 10 neighborhoods analyzed, 9 out of 10 (90%) earned an A-range grade, and 1 out of 10 (10%) earned a B-range grade. No neighborhood received a C, D, or F. The city's overall crime grade is C+, which reflects aggregate crime volume relative to national benchmarks — a figure influenced by the density of activity in commercial corridors. Property crimes such as vehicle break-ins and theft tend to be the most common incident types in higher-activity zones like Downtown San Rafael, while violent crime remains rare across the city. San Rafael's 5% unemployment rate and median household income of $97,009 correlate with the generally low crime environment found in most of its neighborhoods.

Which neighborhoods in San Rafael have the lowest crime?

Three neighborhoods share the highest possible safety grade of A+: Peacock Gap (population 1,524; median income $224,258), Loch Lomond (population 593; median income $168,990), and Glenwood (population 2,060; median income $180,806). These communities combine low crime rates with high household incomes — Peacock Gap's median income of $224,258 is more than double the city median of $97,009. Close behind with Grade A ratings are Forbes / Fairhills ($132,633 median income), Dominican / Black Canyon ($182,951), San Rafael Country Club ($194,992), and West End ($138,677). Rounding out the top tier, San Rafael (the broader neighborhood, population 51,434) and Gerstle Park both hold Grade A- ratings. Collectively, these neighborhoods demonstrate that the vast majority of San Rafael's residential areas offer a very safe living environment.

What parts of San Rafael have higher crime?

Even San Rafael's "higher crime" areas remain objectively safe by most measures. Downtown San Rafael is the lowest-graded neighborhood at B-, with a population of 2,658 and a median household income of $73,662 — the lowest in the city. As a commercial and transit hub, Downtown tends to see more property crime incidents, including petty theft and vehicle-related offenses, than the quieter residential enclaves. Gerstle Park (Grade A-, median income $92,277) and the broader San Rafael neighborhood (Grade A-, median income $105,216) also rank slightly lower than the top-tier areas, though both remain well within safe territory. Notably, West End and San Rafael Country Club — despite appearing on the "higher crime" list — both carry Grade A ratings, underscoring that even relative crime variation in San Rafael operates within a very narrow, low-risk band.

Is San Rafael a good place to raise a family?

San Rafael presents a compelling case for families, combining strong safety grades with robust economic fundamentals. With 100% of neighborhoods graded B or higher, parents can find safe residential options across a wide range of budgets — from the ultra-affluent Peacock Gap (median home value context: city median is $973,007) to more accessible areas like Gerstle Park (median income $92,277, Grade A-). The city's poverty rate of 11.4% and unemployment rate of 5% are moderate for the Bay Area, and the median rent of $2,037 reflects Marin County's competitive housing market. Neighborhoods such as Glenwood, Dominican / Black Canyon, and Forbes / Fairhills — all graded A or A+ — offer quiet, residential settings with low crime rates that are particularly well-suited to families. The city's overall crime grade of C+ is worth noting for citywide context, but neighborhood-level data consistently points to a safe, livable community.

How does San Rafael's safety compare to other California cities?

San Rafael's neighborhood safety profile stands out even within Marin County. With 90% of neighborhoods earning a Grade A and zero neighborhoods below a B-, the city's residential areas outperform many California cities of similar or larger size. The citywide crime grade of C+ reflects some elevated activity in commercial zones — a pattern common to regional centers — but the neighborhood-level data tells a more nuanced story. Cities with comparable populations often show far greater grade variance, including D and F neighborhoods. San Rafael's median household income of $97,009 and median home value of $973,007 place it firmly in high-income Marin County territory, which historically correlates with lower residential crime rates. Areas like Peacock Gap and San Rafael Country Club, with median incomes approaching or exceeding $200,000, reflect the affluent, low-crime character that defines much of the city's residential fabric.