So you’re eyeing homes for sale in Pleasant Hill, CA, and wondering if the town’s mellow vibe matches the numbers. Nobody wants to fork over Bay Area prices only to find out they’ve parked in a higher-crime zip code.
I’ve pulled fresh crime data, chatted with a few residents of Pleasant Hill over coffee at Rooted, and compared the neighborhood to nearby cities—Walnut Creek, Concord, even Oakland—so you can decide whether Pleasant Hill is the safe place to live you’re hoping for.
Pleasant Hill Crime Overview
Current Crime Rate in Pleasant Hill
According to NeighborhoodScout’s 2025 snapshot, the overall crime rate in Pleasant Hill sits at 54.6 incidents per 1,000 residents—that’s 1,845 total crimes last year.
Roughly 3.1 of those were violent crimes, the rest were property crimes. Translation: one in 18 locals had some brush with reported crime in 2024.
Comparison to CA Crime Rates
Statewide California crime rates tell a mixed story.
California’s violent-crime average for 2023 landed at 5.03 per 1,000 residents, while property crime averaged 23.3 per 1,000.
Pleasant Hill beats the state on violent numbers (3.1 vs. 5.03) but doubles the state’s property-crime tally—proof that porch pirates love our cul-de-sacs.
National Average Crime Statistics
Stack us against the U.S. as a whole—4 violent crimes and 19 property crimes per 1,000—and Pleasant Hill still posts lower crime on the violent side but noticeably higher crime on the property side.
If you come from a low-population Midwest suburb, the theft count here will feel hefty; if you’re migrating from Oakland or San Francisco, Pleasant Hill crime rates may read like a vacation brochure.
Crime Rates in Pleasant Hill
Property Crime
Property crime is the headline act: 1,739 incidents in 2024. That breaks down to 40.6 thefts, 7.1 burglaries, and 3.7 vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents.
If you leave a bike unlocked outside Sunvalley Mall, odds are decent it won’t be there after lunch. A video doorbell and steering-wheel lock are local must-haves.
Violent Crime
Violent crime in Pleasant Hill totaled 106 cases last year—one homicide, nine rapes, 39 robberies, and 57 aggravated assaults.
Your chance of being a victim of a violent crime is roughly 1 in 319, a figure most Contra Costa County officers would call “better-than-average” for the Bay Area.
Other Crime
Fraud, package thefts, catalytic-converter grabs—those round out the “other” bucket. Monthly police bulletins show holiday porch-piracy spikes and summer upticks in robbery near the BART station.
Trends in Pleasant Hill Crime Rates
Through May 2025, total crime is down about 4 percent year-over-year, thanks to license-plate readers blanketing Contra Costa Boulevard and fresh patrols in Gregory Gardens.
Good sign the overall crime rate is trending lower, though one data-quirk doesn’t make a forever trend.
Safety and Living in Pleasant Hill
Safest Neighborhoods in Pleasant Hill
If you want the safest neighbourhood vibe, locals point to Hillsdale, Poets Corner, Saddleridge, and the pockets north of Gregory Lane. Each posted fewer than 30 crimes per square mile last year.
Factors Contributing to Safety in Pleasant Hill
A robust median household income—$144,513—plus an engaged Neighborhood Watch network, keeps violent crimes low.
The town’s low population of roughly 34,000 spread across quiet, tree-lined blocks doesn’t hurt either.
How Pleasant Hill Police Are Addressing Crime
Pleasant Hill PD partners with Walnut Creek detectives to chase cross-city vehicle theft rings, uses bait packages to nab porch pirates, and pushes real-time crime data to residents via Nixle alerts.
Officers remind us that detailed crime rates shift block by block, so the Pleasant Hill crime map is your friend before signing any lease.
Home Security Tips for Pleasant Hill Residents
Keep lights on timers, trim hedges near windows, lock cars even in your driveway, and register bikes with the PD. Simple moves slash your chance of becoming a victim of a property crime.
Identifying the Safest Areas in Pleasant Hill
Best Places to Live in Pleasant Hill
If you like Pleasant Hill for its parks and community vibe, consider College Park (near top schools), Ellinwood (condos with gated parking), or Saddleridge (bigger lots).
All three boast lower crime and quick freeway access—a neat balance for those weighing the cost of living against safety.
Safety in Pleasant Hill Compared to Nearby Cities
Crime Rate Comparison with Similar Population Areas
When you stack Pleasant Hill against nearby cities of roughly similar population, the story shifts depending on which border you cross. Just south on I-680, Walnut Creek clocks an overall crime rate of about 31.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, which makes Pleasant Hill’s 54.6 crimes per 1,000 look steep by comparison.
Head east to Concord and you’ll find 48.2 crimes per 1,000—still lower than Pleasant Hill, but not by much.
Drive west through the Caldecott Tunnel and the numbers jump off the chart: Oakland reports a whopping 135.7 crimes per 1,000 residents.
So, Pleasant Hill ranks higher than Walnut Creek on the property-crime front, edges past Concord overall, yet remains far safer than Oakland.
For would-be residents weighing CA crime rates in the inner East Bay, Pleasant Hill lands squarely in the middle—neither the safest nor the riskiest place to live, but a fair compromise between suburban calm and Bay Area convenience.
Victimization and Community Safety
Chance of Being a Victim in Pleasant Hill
Crunch the math: your chance of being a victim of crime in Pleasant Hill—any crime—is about 1 in 18; for violent crimes alone, 1 in 319. That puts us higher than the national average for theft, but lower than many Bay Area hubs for violence.
How to Stay Safe in Pleasant Hill
Bookmark the crime map, set motion alerts on your phone, meet Craigslist buyers at the Police Department lobby—it’s open 24/7. These habits keep the chance of being a victim low.
Final Thoughts on Crime and Safety in Pleasant Hill
Whether Pleasant Hill meets your definition of a great place to live comes down to priorities.
Violent crime sits lower than both California crime and national averages, but higher crime in the property category means you’ll want that Ring camera.
When you compare Pleasant Hill to surrounding cities with similar population and cost of living, it offers a fair compromise—Bay Area perks without Oakland’s numbers.
Factor in parks, schools, and quick I-680 access, and Pleasant Hill offers enough safety for most buyers hunting that sweet mid-county lifestyle.
Pleasant Hill, CA Safety FAQs
How do Pleasant Hill crime rates compare to Walnut Creek?
Walnut Creek posts 31.2 crimes per 1,000—Pleasant Hill hits 54.6—so Walnut Creek shows lower crime overall, especially on the property side.
Is vehicle theft a real issue?
Yes. Vehicle theft averages 3.7 per 1,000 residents. A steering-wheel club or driveway camera is a cheap way to dodge that stat.
Which neighborhood shows the lowest crime map heat?
The Pleasant Hill crime map consistently flags Hillsdale as the safest, with fewer than 20 incidents last year.
Are Pleasant Hill violent crimes higher than the national average?
No. Violent crime in Pleasant Hill sits at 3.1 per 1,000—about 22 percent lower than the U.S. median of 4 per 1,000.
