Nelson, CA Crime Rate & Safety
Last updated: July 28, 2026
Lower crime than 97% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated July 2026
Summary: Nelson, CA Crime Rate (2026)
Nelson, CA has a crime safety grade of A as of 2026. The overall crime rate is 52% below the national average. Nelson has lower crime than 97% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Data source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) & local law enforcement agencies. Last updated: July 28, 2026.
Is Nelson Safe?
Yes — Nelson is very safe
A very safe city with well below-average crime rates overall.
Nelson has a crime rate that is 52% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 347.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 347
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
24% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 624
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
91% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
Nelson Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
32 | -68% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
58 | -42% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
130 | +30% | Moderate | |
|
Rape
|
105 | +5% | Average | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
36 | -64% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
4 | -96% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
4 | -96% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Nelson Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
Nelson Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Nelson zip codes.
Nelson Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Nelson, CA?
Nelson, CA has a crime safety grade of A as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 52% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 347 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 624 chance for property crime. Nelson has lower crime than 97% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Nelson, CA safe to live in?
Nelson is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of A. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting Nelson is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Nelson?
The estimated violent crime rate in Nelson is 288.3 per 100,000 residents, which is 24% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 347 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 1.6 per 100K (68% below average); aggravated assault at 155.6 per 100K (42% below average); robbery at 95.8 per 100K (30% above average).
What is the property crime rate in Nelson?
The estimated property crime rate in Nelson is 160.3 per 100,000 residents, which is 91% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 624 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 96.6 per 100K (64% below average); larceny/theft at 51.9 per 100K (96% below average); vehicle theft at 11.8 per 100K (96% below average).
How does Nelson crime compare to the national average?
Nelson's overall crime rate is 52% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is robbery (30% above average), while larceny/theft is 96% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Nelson has lower crime than 97% of them.
Is Nelson safe to visit?
Nelson is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 91% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does Nelson crime compare to the rest of California?
California as a whole has crime that is 9% above the national average. Nelson's crime rate is 52% below the national average, making it safer the typical California city.
What type of crime is most common in Nelson?
Aggravated assault is the most common crime in Nelson, with an estimated rate of 155.6 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 42% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (160 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (288 per 100K) in Nelson, which is consistent with national trends.