Crime & Safety in Berkeley
Berkeley's crime data shows a real, honestly two-sided picture: a genuinely high absolute rate per NeighborhoodScout, alongside a real, current, documented improving trend.
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Learn moreA genuinely high absolute crime rate
Berkeley's overall crime rate ran 66 per 1,000 residents per NeighborhoodScout -- genuinely among the highest in America across communities of all sizes, with roughly 1-in-15 odds of victimization for either violent or property crime.
A real, current, genuinely documented improving trend
Berkeley Police Department's own 2026 data showed crime fell 11% from 2024 to 2025 across tracked categories, with property crime specifically down 18% -- a genuine, documented improvement disclosed here plainly alongside the high absolute rate rather than omitted.
Crime concentrates geographically -- neighborhood matters
As with most cities in this dataset, Berkeley's crime is not spread evenly. Confirm a specific address directly rather than relying on a citywide figure alone.
Key takeaways
- Berkeley's overall crime rate (66 per 1,000) runs genuinely high per NeighborhoodScout's most recent data.
- A real, current, documented improving trend applies: crime down 11% year-over-year, property crime down 18%.
- Crime concentrates geographically -- confirm a specific address directly.
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