Santa Clara County, California, is located in the southern section of the San Francisco Bay Area and is recognized for its diverse population. With a population of almost 1.9 million people, the county has a large number of high-tech companies and colleges.
While many communities in the county are safe and prosperous, there are regions that experience high rates of crime and violence. According to data from the Crime Strategies Unit inside the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the following are the five most dangerous neighborhoods in Santa Clara County, California.
East San José:
East San Jose, located in the eastern section of San Jose, the county’s major city and seat, has a dense population. The crime figures show that East San Jose had the highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 3,551 instances logged.
This translates to a violent crime rate of 13.7 per 1,000 persons, which is about double the county average of 7.5. The most prevalent violent crimes in East San Jose were aggravated assault (2,284 occurrences), robbery (1,030 cases), and homicide (237 cases).
Downtown San José:
Downtown San Jose serves as the city’s core economic district and cultural epicenter, with an estimated 100,000 residents. According to crime data, Downtown San Jose had the second highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 1,057 instances recorded.
This resulted in a violent crime rate of 10.6 per 1,000 residents, which above the county average. The most common violent crimes in this area were aggravated assault (630 instances), robbery (370 cases), and homicide (57 occurrences).
Gilroy:
Gilroy, located in the county’s southernmost area, has a population of around 60,000. According to crime statistics, Gilroy has the third-highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 351 incidences. This translated to a violent crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents, slightly lower than the county average.
Notably, Gilroy had the county’s highest homicide rate in 2020, with 18 incidents, resulting in a homicide rate of 0.3 per 1,000 persons. The most common violent crimes in Gilroy were aggravated assault (223 occurrences), robbery (110 cases), and homicide (18 cases).
Milpitas:
Milpitas, located in the northeastern county area, is home to approximately 80,000 people. According to crime data, Milpitas had the fourth-highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 328 instances documented.
This resulted in a violent crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents, which is below the county average. The most common violent crimes in Milpitas were aggravated assault (195 instances), robbery (123 cases), and homicide (10 occurrences).
Mountain Views:
Mountain View, located in the county’s northern region, has a population of approximately 80,000 people. According to crime statistics, Mountain View had the fifth-highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 315 instances reported in 2020.
This resulted in a violent crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents, lower than the county average. Mountain View’s primary violent crimes were aggravated assault (189 instances), robbery (114 cases), and homicide (12 cases).
Conclusion
These communities face not only violent crime, but also property-related offenses like burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. The property crime rate in Santa Clara County for 2020 was 23.7 per 1,000 residents, somewhat higher than the national median of 19 per 1,000 residents.
However, some neighborhoods had considerably higher property crime rates than others. For example, East San Jose had a property crime rate of 40 per 1,000 persons, which was roughly above the county average. Similarly, Downtown San Jose recorded a property crime rate of 36 per 1,000 residents, which exceeded the county average.