Despite being the state capitol, Sacramento is often overshadowed by larger and more famous urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Sacramento offers the same pros of California living, but at a slightly reduced cost of living compared to those cities. 

Unfortunately, Sacramento’s dense population and high rate of poverty and homelessness also make it a hotspot for property crime, theft and violent crimes like assault and murder. Continue reading to learn about the most dangerous places to live in Sacramento and safer alternatives.

Is Sacramento a Dangerous Place to Live?

Sacramento has a relatively small population of less than a million people. The website areavibes.com lists Sacramento as having 119 distinct neighborhoods.

AreaVibes provides a detailed breakdown of crime in different neighborhoods, including violent crime. 

The violent crime rate in the city overall is 683 reported incidents per 100,000 people, which is 76% higher than the national average for violent crime of 388 per 100,000 people.

At the time of this writing, most of the information about crime that is available online comes from the FBI crime report for the year 2020, released in September 2021. 

The 6 Most Dangerous Places to Live In Sacramento, California

Let’s take a look at the 6 most dangerous places to live in Sacramento below to learn where exactly you should avoid looking for houses.

Parker Homes

According to AreaVibes, the most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento is Parker Homes. 

This tiny neighborhood has the highest rate of violent crime in Sacramento, at 5,236 per 100,000 people, which is 1250% higher than the national average for violent crime. 

However, Parker Homes itself has a very small population of less than 1000 people and is only a few square blocks, so these numbers are an extreme extrapolation of existing data. 

Del Paso Park

The second most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento is Del Paso Park. 

This neighborhood has a population of 1,231 and a violent crime rate of 2,324 per 100,000 people, which is 500% higher than the national average for violent crime. 

The neighborhood is located at the northeastern edge on the Sacramento city limits, across from the Sacramento-McClellan Airport. It takes its name from the sprawling Del Paso Regional Park within its borders.

Midtown

The third most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento is Midtown. As the name suggests, Midtown is located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, adjacent to the bustling riverfront district. 

Midtown has a population of 6,443 people and a violent crime rate of 2,271 per 100,000 people, 486% higher than the national average. 

Midtown is centrally located and offers hotels, restaurants and nightlife. 

Gardenland

The fourth most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento is Gardenland. 

The Gardenland neighborhood has a population of 3,078 and a violent crime rate of 2,170 per 100,000, which is 460% higher than the national average. 

Gardenland is located in north Sacramento next to the American River Parkway and Northgate.

Upper Land Park

Upper Land Park is the fifth most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento. 

The neighborhood has a population of 3,917 and a violent crime rate of 2,030 per 100,000, which is 423% higher than the national average. 

Upper Land Park is just south of downtown Sacramento and looks out on the Sacramento River. The neighborhood is next to Old Sacramento Park, a historical recreation of Gold Rush-era California. 

South Hagginwood 

South Hagginwood is the sixth most dangerous neighborhood in Sacramento. 

The neighborhood has a population of 4,864 people and a violent crime rate of 2,027 per 100,000, which is 423% higher than the national average.

South Hagginwood is located in north Sacramento next to the larger Hagginwood neighborhood. 

The area is mostly residential and filled with homes, parks and some small businesses like restaurants and auto shops. 

Safe Alternatives to Live In Sacramento, California

Sacramento also has many safer alternatives for those looking to avoid violent crime and other dangers. 

The safest areas of Sacramento are neighborhoods like: 

  • River Park
  • Elmhurst
  • Campus Commons
  • Westlake and Pocket

These areas have some of the lowest rates of violent crime in Sacramento are found to the north and south of downtown. 

These neighborhoods are full of parks, coffee shops and residential single family homes and have a quieter, more suburban feeling.

Conclusion

Overall Sacramento has plenty to offer renters and homeowners, but safety is always a concern when living in an urban environment. 

Neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city or bordering industrial zones have higher crime rates, while neighborhoods clustered around the American River are safer and more residential. 

Another safer alternative may be to live in a suburb outside the Sacramento city limits and commute when needed.