California Cities Rank Among America’s Least Safe in New Study

Several California cities have been ranked among the least safe places to live in the United States, according to a new 2026 study by personal finance platform SmartAsset.

The study evaluated 83 U.S. cities with populations of at least 250,000, using four key indicators: violent crime, property crime, traffic fatalities, and natural disaster risk.

San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, and Riverside were among the cities identified as having the highest overall safety risks.

Oakland recorded one of the nation’s highest crime rates, with 19.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, second only to Memphis. Meanwhile, San Francisco and Stockton tied for the highest motor vehicle fatality rate among the cities analyzed, with 18.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The report also noted that some California cities, including Irvine and Santa Ana, have relatively low crime rates but still ranked lower overall because of their high exposure to natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes.

None of the 12 California cities included in the study made the list of the nation’s 10 safest large cities.

Virginia Beach, Virginia, ranked as the safest large city in the country, while Texas had cities on both ends of the spectrum. Plano and Laredo were among the safest, whereas Dallas and Houston were listed among the least safe. Memphis, Tennessee, ranked last overall due to high crime, traffic fatalities, and disaster risk.

Researchers said the rankings highlight the importance of considering not only crime rates but also road safety and environmental risks when deciding where to live.