Santa Margarita, CA Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 91% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated April 2026
Is Santa Margarita Safe?
Yes — Santa Margarita is safe overall
A safe city with below-average crime, though safety varies by neighborhood.
Santa Margarita has a crime rate that is 48% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 521.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 521
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
50% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 174
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
69% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
Santa Margarita 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
|
41 | -59% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
38 | -62% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
81 | -19% | Average | |
|
Rape
|
87 | -13% | Average | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
82 | -18% | Average | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
21 | -79% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
17 | -83% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Santa Margarita Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
Santa Margarita Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Santa Margarita zip codes.
Santa Margarita Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Santa Margarita, CA?
Santa Margarita, CA has a crime safety grade of A- as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 48% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 521 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 174 chance for property crime. Santa Margarita has lower crime than 91% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Santa Margarita, CA safe to live in?
Santa Margarita 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 Santa Margarita is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Santa Margarita?
The estimated violent crime rate in Santa Margarita is 192.0 per 100,000 residents, which is 50% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 521 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 2.0 per 100K (59% below average); aggravated assault at 100.7 per 100K (62% below average); robbery at 60.0 per 100K (19% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Santa Margarita?
The estimated property crime rate in Santa Margarita is 574.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 69% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 174 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 220.7 per 100K (18% below average); larceny/theft at 300.8 per 100K (79% below average); vehicle theft at 53.4 per 100K (83% below average).
How does Santa Margarita crime compare to the national average?
Santa Margarita's overall crime rate is 48% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is rape (13% below average), while vehicle theft is 83% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Santa Margarita has lower crime than 91% of them.
Is Santa Margarita safe to visit?
Santa Margarita is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 69% 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 Santa Margarita crime compare to the rest of California?
California as a whole has crime that is 9% above the national average. Santa Margarita's crime rate is 48% below the national average, making it safer the typical California city.
What type of crime is most common in Santa Margarita?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Santa Margarita, with an estimated rate of 300.8 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 79% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (575 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (192 per 100K) in Santa Margarita, which is consistent with national trends.