Is Concord Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

If you’ve ever enjoyed a Tom Hanks film, you can thank Concord, California.

Hanks grew up here and went to college in nearby Hayward.

Concord is a sleepy suburb of the busy San Francisco Bay area.

This is a place to go to get away from the frantic pace of the city, the noise of a bustling downtown core, and save a little bit of money while you’re at it.

This is a town where you can take the Taco Trail through 40 of the best Mexican taquerias you can find this side of the border, and then burn off those calories on a nature trail hiking to the top of Mount Diablo.

As with any suburban oasis, there are plenty of shopping options and this diverse community brings ethnic foods of all varieties.

It’s not known for its nightlife, but being in a major metropolitan area, you’ve got as much excitement as you can handle just a BART ride away.

Warnings & Dangers in Concord

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's low overall risk with a few areas we'll need to do a deeper dive into, but for the most part, you're getting a safe suburban community. Make no mistake, this is NOT San Francisco, so don't expect it to be.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

In the Bay Area, BART is everything (Bay Area Rapid Transit). There are two BART stations in Concord that will get you to San Francisco (with a LOT of stops in between). There's also a County Connection Bus Line to get around Costa County. Taxis and rideshares are available too. All of those come with low risk.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

The misdemeanor crimes like larceny are among the highest crime rates in this area. While 42 pickpockets or purse snatching doesn't sound like a lot, in the research I've done, this is among the higher numbers in the Bay Area. There's a 1 in 47 chance of being a victim of a theft, so we'll label that a medium risk.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Earthquakes and wildfires (with their residual impacts too) are the big concerns, and I want you to be prepared so we'll call it a medium risk. The city has great disaster preparation guides in seven languages to make sure the information gets to regional, national, and international travelers.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Robbery rates are about 40% higher than the national average here. That's the bad news. The good news is that there has been a five-year trend of that number dropping. In the past decade, the robbery rate has been cut in half. There's a low risk here, but it's really close to medium risk.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There's a military base here, and it's part of one of the largest population centers in the country, so that's medium risk.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are scams here, but they are targeted at locals. The biggest scam is a PG&E (the utility company) scam where scammers pretend to be a worker and ask for money to avoid power being shut off. There's a low risk for tourists.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Assuming a woman traveler is taking basic safety precautions, there's a low risk in Concord.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Tap water comes with low risk. The Costa Contra Water District says, "As the water providers to more than 500,000 people, you can count on us to provide a reliable product that exceeds all drinking water standards set by the state and federal governments, keeping our community healthy and thriving."

Safest Places to Visit in Concord

The Tourism arm of the Concord community has a great section of its website for a first-timer visit to the city.

It’s a great reference for background on the city in detail.

Some highlights:

• Dining options representing 30 countries
• A booming craft beer scene
• Various amusement park options
• Live music and farmer’s markets often

Todos Santos is in the heart of Concord, but you’ll feel transported to a Spanish village.

Lights adorn the adobe buildings with modern charm.

There’s a park in the center to rest weary feet after walking through the shops and restaurants.

Check for local events happening here.

For example, in the summer, Tuesday nights are reserved for blues performances that have been running for nearly three decades.

While Southern California has Disneyland, Northern California has plenty of amusement parks throughout the various communities.

In Concord, you’ll find Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Pixieland.

Both offer family-friendly and safe entertainment with a little something for everyone.

You can’t visit Concord without enjoying the great outdoors.

Mount Diablo is a popular place for hiking, camping, and horseback riding.

If you make it to the top, expansive views span hundreds of miles (on a clear day) and it’s about the most Instagram-worthy moment of the whole trip.

If climbing a mountain is a little too intense, head to the valley in Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area.

You’ll get incredible views of sandstone formations and rolling hills as far as the eye can see.

Places to Avoid in Concord

To answer this question, I first go to the actual crime statistics, and then I get a feel of what dozens of residents are saying on social media.

Sometimes the two match up, other times they’re exactly opposite.

In the case of Concord, it matches up.

Crime maps show the area along Monument Boulevard has the highest crime rates, especially north of Monument.

Willow Pass Road has some areas more prone to crime.

What do locals actually say about those areas?

• “Monument Blvd is very rough. Concord is a great city, frankly. Centrally located, easy access to BART, North Bay, Sacramento, etc.”

• “Concord’s stereotypical “bad” part is the area around Monument Blvd, and it has this reputation because most of the San Ramon Valley is upper class. If you live in Danville or Walnut Creek, of course, it’s gonna seem seedy. Is it as bad as parts of Oakland or SF? lol no.”

• “A couple of sketchy areas, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. Todos Santos has really taken off.”

• Concord is a city without much of a nightlife scene past 10 p.m., so you shouldn’t be wandering the streets at night, especially not alone.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Concord

So... How Safe Is Concord Really?

The violent crime rate is lower than the California average, while the property crime rate is higher.

This is a city where the less dangerous crimes are much more common.

What are your chances of being a victim of a crime?

Here’s the answer from the 2020 statistics reported to the FBI:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 296
• Robbery: 1 in 729
• Theft: 1 in 47
• Rape: 1 in 3300

It’s a very diverse community, with Latinos and Asians making up 43% of the community.

There’s racial tension when someone might tell you a certain part of town is bad, but it’s just mostly a Latino community.

While this might not be a town where you stop in any neighborhood and ask for directions, it’s definitely not an inherently safe town.

There are just nine hotel locations in the city, so you don’t have much variety as to what part of town you stay in.

I suggest checking the crime statistics closer to the time of your visit.

The police send out monthly crime reports on their website.

How Does Concord Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You're good with the Visa once you leave the airport and no other form of ID is needed to be in Concord.

Currency

All currency is the U.S. Dollar. Most places accept credit cards here, so there's very little need for cash. Don't take cash out of an ATM at night or in a busy public place. Go into the bank if you must. Otherwise, just use a credit card for purchases.

Weather

Mild in the winter, hot in the summer is the easiest way to describe it. The coldest days in December and January will be near 60°(F) for highs and lows in the 40s, so bring a heavy jacket or light coat. Summers are hot with average highs near 90°(F) and those lows do dip into the cooling mid-50s.

Airports

The closest airports are in Oakland and San Francisco, both with a 45-minute drive, but always add 30 minutes for traffic. San Jose and Sacramento airports are also options, but each is more than an hour's drive.

Travel Insurance

You'll want travel insurance for a trip to Concord, California. Wildfires and fog can disrupt air traffic for hours or days.

Concord Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

California - Safety by City