South San Francisco, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in South San Francisco

Is South San Francisco safe?

South San Francisco earns an overall crime grade of C-, which places it in the moderate risk category — but that city-wide number tells only part of the story. When you break the data down by neighborhood, 67% of the city's 15 analyzed neighborhoods fall into the safe A or B tier, while only 7% (1 neighborhood) land in the higher-crime D tier. No neighborhood received an F grade. Areas like Winston-Serra (Grade A), Paradise Valley (Grade A), and Sign Hill (Grade A-) consistently record very low crime activity. On the other end, Orange Park is the sole D-rated neighborhood, and East of 101 sits at C+, meaning residents and visitors in those zones should exercise more caution. For most people living in Westborough, Sunshine Gardens, or Downtown South San Francisco — all rated B+ — day-to-day safety is comparable to many well-regarded Bay Area communities.

What is the crime rate in South San Francisco, and how does it compare across neighborhoods?

South San Francisco carries an overall crime grade of C- on a letter-grade scale. Drilling into the neighborhood breakdown reveals meaningful variation: 20% of neighborhoods (3 out of 15) earned an A, 46.7% (7 neighborhoods) earned a B, 26.7% (4 neighborhoods) earned a C, and 6.7% (1 neighborhood) earned a D. That means nearly half the city's neighborhoods sit solidly in the B range — a relatively low-crime designation. The highest-income neighborhoods also tend to score best: Winston-Serra, with a median household income of $124,193, holds a Grade A, while Westborough, with a median income of $122,399, holds a Grade B+. Conversely, Orange Park (Grade D) represents the city's most concentrated crime concern. Using the crime map to filter by neighborhood grade gives a far more precise picture than any single city-wide figure.

What are the safest neighborhoods in South San Francisco?

Based on 2026 crime data across 15 analyzed neighborhoods, the top-rated areas are:

• Winston-Serra — Grade A: The largest of the safe neighborhoods at 10,928 residents, with a median household income of $124,193. Consistently the city's top performer on safety metrics.
• Paradise Valley — Grade A: A smaller community of 4,124 residents with a median income of $99,031 and very low crime activity.
• Sign Hill — Grade A-: Home to 3,605 residents and a median income of $99,549, just a hair below a full A but still among the city's safest.
• Sunshine Gardens — Grade B+: A mid-sized neighborhood (6,825 residents) with a $103,026 median income and strong safety performance.
• Westborough — Grade B+: The second-largest neighborhood analyzed at 14,471 residents, with a $122,399 median income — making it both populous and comparatively safe.
• Downtown South San Francisco — Grade B+: Despite having the lowest median income among B+ neighborhoods at $57,711, Downtown SSF still earns a B+ grade, reflecting meaningful safety improvements in a historically mixed-use corridor.

Combined, these six neighborhoods account for a substantial share of the city's population and all sit in the top two grade tiers.

Which areas of South San Francisco have higher crime levels?

Only one neighborhood — Orange Park — received a D grade, making it the single highest-crime area identified in the 2026 analysis. East of 101 earned a C+, placing it in the lower-middle tier; this industrial and commercial corridor sees different crime patterns than purely residential areas. It is worth noting that several neighborhoods listed among the city's safer zones — including Lindenville (B+), El Camino (B), and Avalon (B) — still appear in comparative discussions of relative concern simply because they rank lower than the A-tier neighborhoods. A B grade still indicates a relatively low-crime environment; context matters when interpreting the map. Residents in or near Orange Park and East of 101 are advised to stay aware of surroundings and use the interactive crime map to monitor recent incident patterns in real time.

Is South San Francisco a good place to live in 2026?

By most measurable indicators, yes. South San Francisco's median household income of $106,005 sits well above national averages, and the unemployment rate of just 2.5% reflects a robust local economy anchored by the biotech and life sciences sector. The poverty rate of 6.8% is relatively low, and the median home value of $910,610 signals strong long-term demand for housing in the area. From a safety standpoint, 67% of neighborhoods grade out at A or B — meaning two out of every three analyzed neighborhoods are considered safe. Families and professionals drawn to neighborhoods like Winston-Serra, Westborough, or Sunshine Gardens will find crime grades that compare favorably to broader Bay Area benchmarks. The primary caveat is the city's overall C- grade, which is pulled down by a small number of higher-crime pockets. Prospective residents are encouraged to use the South San Francisco crime map to compare specific neighborhoods before making housing decisions.