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For the third consecutive year the town of Danville has been recognized for its efforts to cultivate a safe community, earning the designation as the safest community in California, according to a recent study conducted by a national security company.
After analyzing property and violent crime statistics from hundreds of the Golden State’s municipalities, Safewise — a home and online security provider — ranked the 50 Safest “Cities” in California, placing Danville at the top spot while also recognizing neighboring San Ramon as the seventh-safest and Pleasanton as the 40th-safest communities in the state.
“While there is no one single effort that can be attributed to the reduction in crime Danville has seen over the last 30 years, the town has fostered a culture of public safety through a shared vision, which starts with the expectations of our residents, is amplified through the direction provided by our Town Council, and carried out thoughtfully by the men and women who serve in the Police Department,” Danville Police Chief Allan Shields said in a statement.
Chief Shields added that the police department will continue to build on that sense of collaboration, and work to maintain Danville as a safe place to live, work, shop and raise a family.
Each year, Safewise uses FBI crime statistics and U.S. Census population data to rank the safest cities in each state and across the country.
Information is collected from FBI crime data reported in 2018 — the most recent complete report available — and grades cities based on the number of violent crimes — aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery — as well as property crimes — burglary, arson, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft — that occur in each city per 1000 resident.
Danville, with a population of 45,202 and a median income of $152,798, reported only 16 violent crimes in 2018, a rate of 0.4 per 1,000 residents in addition to a property crime rate of 7.1 per 1,000.
Violent crime rates remained the same in Danville compared to the previous year, while property crime rates saw a decrease of 0.6 reported cases per 1,000 residents compared to 2019’s report.
San Ramon saw a slight drop in rankings compared to its sixth place ranking in 2019, however at the seventh spot the city is still recognized as one of the safest in the state. In 2020’s rankings, FBI statistics reported 0.6 violent crime occurrences per 1,000 resident and 10.3 property crimes per the same ratio.
Nearby Pleasanton saw a much larger drop in its ranking, falling 21 spots from its previous year’s ranking to the 40th spot with a violent crime rate of 1.3 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 17.0.
Absent from the top 50 list were the Tri-Valley communities of Dublin (ranked as the 32nd safest city in California last year) and Livermore, which ranked 58th and 62nd respectively on this year’s top 100 list.
Statewide, California’s violent crime rate remained stable compared to years past according to Safewise, which reported 4.5 incidents of violent crime per 1,000 people for the second year in a row. However those figures are higher than the national rate, which approximates 3.7 reported incidents per 1,000 people.
Property crime in California also decreased in this year’s report, to 23.8 incidents per 1,000, compared to 25.1 the year before. That’s still higher than the national property crime rate of 22 per 1,000 people.
Yeah let’s hear it for Pleasanton! I support the rank and Ike 100% they are on the front lines and do an excellent job. The issue is likely with the leadership and example they set (read: all but absentee, recently retired Chief that was off more days then on). Also the brass at the top (Chief) change more frequently than Danville, etc. The other issue from my point of view is the tolerance towards homeless camps, loitering, burglaries and quality of life issues. Pleasanton needs to send the same message as Danville & San Ramon, that these issues are less tolerated. A big problem always starts as a small one.
*rank and file
@Rich Serrano
Pleasanton has “homeless camps”? Where?
Yay! We’re Number 40!
All kidding aside. WOMBAT. There is a location On Stanley and Valley. I think it has been since removed. I also think there may have been a small makeshift area near the Southbound Stonerige Off Ramp. Has anyone noticed the wall near the Apartments when you get off SB 680 and Stonerige and Head towards the Mall (West). It seems that the bushes and trees have been all cut back. Judging from the trash that was there I had a theory it might have been a spot were people were sleeping and camping out.
@Dave L
OK, thanks for the info. I think that what you wrote confirms that “homeless camps” are far down on the list of problems or concerns that Pleasanton has. It’s not like we have large scale homeless encampments like those in Oakland or Hayward but camping by a few homeless individuals and that the authorities are on top of the situation.
I’ve noticed over the years how when the demographics in a city like pleasanton change so does the quality of life hmmm
@Wow,
“demographics in a city like pleasanton change”
Please explain what that means. More older people in Pleasanton? San Ramon has a lower crime rate because of the younger people? Is that what you are talking about?
@Wow,
When you say “changing demographics in Pleasanton” you mean all the wealthy tech workers buying million-dollar homes in Ptown? You seriously think they are going out at night, robbing your house?
No, it certainly can’t be that young guy of Pleasanton’s former demographic addicted to meth, right? Okaaaayyyy…
No I’m talking about more people of color. Seams like a trend the more diverse a city becomes the worse it seams to rank.
I figure as we discuss race and culture in everything maybe we should address the change in race diversity and the change of the cities. I.e. pleasanton used to rank at the top now it doesn’t what has changed. The culture or race of its inhabitants. Oakland
Hayward castro valley. Etc. Seams like a pattern to me .
Now I’m sure your gonna yell racist because you dont want to have the hard discussion
But when buc lau. Posts we need more Asian reps on council because of the high amount of asians living in Pleasanton that’s ok.
The demographics have changed and so has the community like so many others and your explanation is?
@Wow wrote “Now I’m sure your gonna yell racist because you dont want to have the hard discussion ”
This ranking is about the SAFETY of various communities, and Pleasanton’s per capita crime rate has dropped by about 50% from the time I first arrived here in Pleasanton around 1990 to today. If you want to attribute the change in Pleasanton’s safety to having a more diverse population today than in the past, then you just torpedoed your own argument.