Santa Maria, CA vs Ventura, CA

Ventura is safer with a higher safety score by 4 points. Santa Maria, CA has a safety score of 61/100 while Ventura, CA has 65/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Maria, CA has a violent crime rate of 660.6 per 100,000 residents, while Ventura, CA has 410.9 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Santa Maria, CA has a property crime rate of 1882.7 per 100,000, compared to 2205.6 per 100,000 in Ventura, 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, Ventura 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.