Lake Forest, CA vs Merced, CA

Lake Forest is safer with a higher safety score by 22 points. Lake Forest, CA has a safety score of 80/100 while Merced, CA has 58/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Lake Forest, CA has a violent crime rate of 145.7 per 100,000 residents, while Merced, CA has 784.8 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Lake Forest, CA has a property crime rate of 829.7 per 100,000, compared to 2792.6 per 100,000 in Merced, CA. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Lake Forest is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.