Is Chandler Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Chandler, Arizona, is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Phoenix is a big city with surrounding cities each offering a certain vibe and Chandler has a special laid-back magic to it.

Located in the southeast part of the metro area, there’s easy highway access, but traffic in Phoenix can be intense.

It’s a good thing there’s so much to do in Chandler to avoid that gridlock.

In the heart of the city, there’s shopping, dining, and entertainment that’s a more relaxed atmosphere than you’ll find in nearby Phoneix.

It’s a blessing and a curse to be on the edge of a growing metropolitan area.

Chandler has become a hub for data centers to the point that citizens are fighting back to limit the number of centers due to noise.

Intel has a large presence in this community, employing more than 11,000 people.

Wells Fargo, Bank of America, PayPal, and Microchip Technology all have locations in Chandler as well.

Warnings & Dangers in Chandler

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's an overall medium risk in Chandler. While it's a little more suburbia than neighboring Phoenix, it's still a major metropolitan area with more than a quarter of a million residents in the city of Chandler. Property crimes and larceny/theft are the top crimes that happen here.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Getting around Phoenix comes with a low-risk thanks to strict requirements from the Arizona Department of Transportation. Most taxis and rideshares have a "Vehicle for Hire" permit. Travelers should confirm their ride has one of these permits before agreeing to the fare.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The Chandler Police Department reported 7 incidents of pickpocketing and purse snatching in 2021. This gives the city a low risk of being pickpocketed. The crime rate for the category of thefts puts Chandler at a rate of 8 theft crimes per 1,000 people.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Despite the sunny reputation of Arizona, there's a medium risk of natural disasters. During the monsoon, storms quickly form during the afternoons and can flood the local washes. Haboobs are giant dust storms that can sweep over the city. There is a high risk of wildfires in Arizona and even if the fire is miles away, the smoke can still cause breathing irritation.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Mugging is a theft by force and there is a medium risk given the statistics released by the Chandler Police Department. Nearly 3500 theft crimes were reported in 2021, but that's down 4% from 2020.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

With no hard target for terrorism in the Phoenix area, there's a low risk of terrorism. The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center works with citizens and law enforcement to report any terrorism concerns. The closest hard target would be the Hoover Dam in the northwest part of the state.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Arizona is a retirement haven due to its warm weather year-round. This means there's a medium risk of scammers trying to take advantage of people. No unique scams exist in this area. Instead, scammers use the same methods they have for years.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

There is a medium risk for female travelers in this area who are younger and a low risk for women over 30. Chandler ranks as one of the top 10 cities for women in technology. It's assuring to know there are women in this area who feel so safe moving here that they are driving top-ranking national lists. The main risk for young women is that Arizona is one of the top three sex trafficking states in the country, with females as young as 14 being taken into the trade.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The tap water risk in Chandler is low. A 2020 Water Quality report showed the water meets all government standards. The city tests the water several times each day to keep the quality high. The biggest water challenge in Chandler is that it's in part of the country where a two-decade drought is threatening precious water resources in the desert.

Safest Places to Visit in Chandler

Chandler has a downtown district, a relief for travelers who don’t want to fight the traffic to get to downtown Phoenix.

There are stores and dining available to suit all spending levels.

The Crayola Experience is good family fun and it’s just one of five in the whole world.

The Chandler Fashion Center is a great place for a shopping spree and the second largest mall in Arizona.

If shopping puts a dent in your pocketbook, walk through the free Eddie Basha Collection of art and see amazing works that bring western and Native American art to life.

Then get out and enjoy the sunshine at Veterans Oasis Park where the city gives way to the desert.

You can also walk through the Solar System here.

A replica built on a much smaller scale has monuments built for each notable part of space as we know it.

Chandler is a walkable city, with many people choosing to ditch the car and ride bikes instead.

There is a bike trail that runs 315 miles through the metropolitan area and Chandler has a few stops on that route.

Places to Avoid in Chandler

The crime data maps show the north and northwest parts of Chandler have the highest crime rates.

Social reviews suggest the older the neighborhood, the more likely it is you should avoid it.

There is also social chatter that south of downtown along Arizona Avenue there can be some sketchy parts.

The places to avoid in Chandler aren’t really in the tourist areas anyway, so there’s no reason to venture away from the hot spots unless you are traveling to other cities in the Phoenix metro area.

You should treat any area with common safety steps, like locking car doors and putting convertible tops up, and keeping a close eye on personal belongings.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Chandler

The heat is no joke in Arizona. The desert climate sucks any sweat right off your skin due to the low humidity, so by the time you are thirsty, it’s too late. Drink 240 ounces a day, and break it up into 5-7 ounces every 20 minutes.
Get ready for nosebleeds. The dry climate can also hurt the membranes in the nose by drying them out, causing cracking and bleeding. You can get ahead of this problem by using a saline spray several times a day to keep the moisture in your nose.
Watch out for critters. Arizona is home to a wide range of pests you won’t see in cities outside the desert. Scorpions are commonly found under rocks or in cool spaces. Shake your shoes before putting them on each day, just to be sure. There are also snakes throughout the desert, but they aren’t interested in you unless you go messing with them.
The weather can change quickly here, so keep your favorite weather app handy. You might start the morning at the pool, but then face a fast-moving monsoon storm in the afternoon. These storms leave as fast as they come but can drop large amounts of rain in a short period. This can cause street flooding and water rescues.
Protect yourself from the sun. Even if you’ve escaped a harsh winter for the sunny skies of Arizona, there’s a severe sunburn risk if sunscreen isn’t applied early and often. Wear a hat and use lip balm with sunscreen. Find shade under a tree or in one of Chandler’s restaurants.
Plan hikes during the morning hours if you can. This avoids the heat of the day and is the lowest risk of sun damage. You’ll also build up a good appetite for one of the many Chandler restaurants.
Stay on the trails if you go exploring the desert. They are there for a reason. Wandering off-path can get you lost quickly and also expose you to more of those critters that don’t like people in their space.
If you are traveling with someone who has special needs or is elderly, check into the Chandler Police Department’s “Return Me Safe” program where you fill out a form ahead of time in case someone goes missing. Send a photograph of that person as well, just in case.
Just because you are visiting doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a good citizen if you see a crime happen. Call the Silent Hotline of the Chandler Police Department if you see a crime happening. That number is (480)782-4440. Store it in your phone now.
As you shop and dine, save your receipts to properly dispose of them by shredding. Don’t throw them away in public trash cans to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

So... How Safe Is Chandler Really?

The Phoenix/Mesa/Chandler metropolitan area is the 12th largest in the country.

It brings in a lot of snowbirds (people who live there half the year to avoid harsh northern winters) and tourists.

Add in the nearly 5 million people that call it home, and there’s going to be an inherent crime risk.

The overall crime rate in Chandler is higher than the national average with 60% of cities being safer based on crime data.

Crimes of opportunity are the biggest risk for tourists.

Don’t let your purse or wallet out of your sight and keep it close to your body.

The chances of theft range from 1 in 64 on the west side of town and 1 in 329 in the southeast section.

The Chandler Police Department has 334 officers serving three patrol divisions:

Downtown
Desert Breeze
Chandler Heights

Each division has officers assigned and caters to the unique needs in that sub-section of the city.

Chandler Police also has two crime prevention officers and a specialist extensively trained in robbery prevention and personal safety.

How Does Chandler Compare?

City	Safety Index
Chandler	64
Atlanta	58
St. Louis	58
Los Angeles	56
Oakland	57
New Orleans	57
Baltimore	56
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)	43
Sofia (Bulgaria)	73
Siem Reap (Cambodia)	63
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)	61
Niagara Falls (Canada)	87
Calgary (Canada)	82

Useful Information

Visas

There isn't a special visa to visit Phoenix outside of the one you'll need if you travel internationally. This process will happen at the airport. It is wise to bring your passport should you decide to go across the Mexican border, which is less than a three-hour drive from Chandler. The border town of Nogales is a popular day-trip spot for tourists.

Currency

All currency is in U.S. Dollars. If you do have some currency to exchange, there are several locations in the immediate Chandler area. There are also crypto-currency exchange locations.

Weather

The weather is very arid in Chandler. You are in the middle of a big desert and it's dry as a bone. The Phoenix metro area is one of the sunniest cities in the country. Chandler gets 300 days of sun a year. Summer brings the potential for thunderstorms or dust storms. These generally pop up quickly and move out. There's rarely a full rainy day in Chandler. Winter temperatures can get close to freezing with average lows near 40.

Airports

Sky Habor International Airport is the biggest airport near Chandler. It's 18 miles away. The estimated drive time is 22 minutes but beware of rush hour traffic, which can be brutal in Phoenix as the city continues its population growth. There are plenty of taxis and rideshare options if you choose not to rent a car. Another airport option is Mesa's Gateway Airport. It's located 15 miles east of Chandler with a 20 minute drive time. The local Chandler Municipal Airport is for private planes.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a great idea if you are traveling to Phoenix. While only 1% of flights to Phoenix are canceled each year, the security of knowing your trip is protected is one less thing to worry about.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Chandler Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 13° C

Feb 14° C

Mar 18° C

Apr 22° C

May 26° C

Jun 32° C

Jul 34° C

Aug 34° C

Sep 30° C

Oct 24° C

Nov 17° C

Dec 12° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	20	21	26	30	35	40	41	40	37	31	24	19
Low °C	5	7	10	13	17	23	27	27	23	16	9	5
High °F	68	70	79	86	95	104	106	104	99	88	75	66
Low °F	41	45	50	55	63	73	81	81	73	61	48	41

Arizona - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Casa Grande	91
Chandler	64
Flagstaff	92
Gilbert	76
Glendale	70
Kingman	86
Lake Havasu City	73
Mesa	84
Oro Valley	92
Phoenix	46
Prescott	87
Scottsdale	80
Sedona	83
Sierra Vista	78
Tempe	65
Tombstone	93
Tucson	48
Yuma	86

Is Chandler Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Arizona : Safety by City