Is Livermore Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Livermore, California, is an art palette for music, nature, and wine lovers.

As part of the San Francisco Bay metropolitan area, this is a place where you can keep a deep breath to escape the rush of the city.

The city is part of the Tri-Valley area that includes Amador, San Ramon, and Livermore Valleys and rides the eastern edge of this metropolitan area, but in reality, it’s a good hour’s drive to the heart of San Francisco.

This is a great escape from the expensive lifestyle in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Wineries flood the valleys of Livermore.

You might even forget about Napa in this wine-soaked region.

You have miles of trails to follow in the surrounding wilderness or feed your sweet tooth with an ice creamery tour.

The charming downtown gives an Americana feel with a West Coast vibe, but behind sturdy walls, the future of U.S. National Security is being developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Library (LLNL).

LLNL is also the largest employer in this area, so you’ll be surrounded by nuclear scientists.

Warnings & Dangers in Livermore

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk here and the crime numbers are very low compared to other California cities of this size. It's #55 of the safest cities according to SafeWise, and it's right next door to the safest city in California, which is Danville.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in the variety of options in Livermore. Livermore Amador Valley Transit has a WHEELS bus service in the immediate area. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) also has a stop here. The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is a train that runs from Stockton to San Jose with two points of contact in Livermore. Taxis and rideshares are also available.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There were two pickpocket reports in 2020, so that's a low risk. Even the general theft rate is lower in comparison to cities of similar size at one in 75. That doesn't mean letting your guard down, but you don't need a death grip on your purse when catching a bus.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The most dangerous part of Livermore might be the medium natural disaster risk. This city could get a major earthquake, is subject to flash flooding, and is also at a big risk of wildfires and associated impacts. You should learn about the safety of all three before your visit so you're better prepared.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Another low-risk category. This city hasn't had more than 60 robberies a year in more than a decade. There's a one in 533 chance of being a victim of a robbery.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There's a large government operation located right in Livermore that helps keep the nation and the world safe. Terrorists hate that idea. This would be a medium risk, but with an operation that large, you can be sure the U.S Government and Homeland Security will take extra steps to keep the surrounding area safe.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Utility company scams are the biggest concern here, which impacts only locals, but if you're renting a home and someone calls or comes by, ask for proof they are with the company and call to confirm their identity. It's worth noting you should never put a deposit down on a rental home via wire transfer. That's a sure sign it's a scam. Overall, it's a low risk.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are safe to travel here and some choose to even live here due to the safety status of the community. There's a low risk.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Add water quality to the list of things that are safe and low risk here. The water meets or exceeds all national standards.

Safest Places to Visit in Livermore

It’s a great idea to spend some time just wandering around downtown Livermore.

While it’s not decked out for tourists, it has that familiar feel of walking down a small town street with arching trees and the smell of fresh-cut grass mixed with fresh bread from a local bakery.

In a surprising twist, the Livermore Casino is right in the middle of downtown.

You have more than two dozen wineries to choose from in and around Livermore.

It’s worth reviewing the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association website before you go to choose the few that fit your preferences.

There is a pre-set Wine Country Bike Tour route if you want to explore the scenery between samples on a bicycle.

Microbrews also give the wine some tough competition here with tours, tastings, and tapas.

I saw one microbrewery with a pretzel ring Charcuterie board and I cannot stop thinking about it.

Del Valle Regional Park is a place for fishing, kayaking, hiking, or horseback riding.

The park also leads to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail backcountry region.

There’s an outlet mall on the western edge of Livermore if you want to go discount shopping before dining at one of the many restaurants in town.

Places to Avoid in Livermore

Livermore is a very safe city from end to end and top to bottom.

Here are a few local comments on this topic:

• “Livermore has some older, more blue-class parts of town, but definitely, nothing I’d even remotely consider to be bad.”
• “Downtown and the surrounding areas used to be a little run down, but downtown has been revitalized and is now a pretty nice place to hang out.”
• “I think Livermore is a safe area. I think there are a few sections that have run-down-looking apartments and some people call it ‘bad’, but I don’t think it is as far as safety goes.”

The average income in this city is $127,000 and less than 5% of people live in poverty.

This is a community rich in people and pays range.

That doesn’t mean forgetting basic safety, like locking your car and taking all valuables with you, avoiding large amounts of cash being seen in public, or telling too much personal information to someone you meet at the winery.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Livermore

So... How Safe Is Livermore Really?

This is one of the top 60 safest cities in California and nearby Danville is the safest.

It’s part of the Tri-Valley region that is filled with safe cities, so not only is this city safe, you aren’t going to stumble into a dangerous city nearby.

Livermore had 165 violent crimes in 2020.

That’s in a city of almost 90,000 people.

There were 47 robberies and 1166 thefts.

Half of those thefts were from vehicles, so another reminder to lock up your car.

In a city this safe on the surface, it’s easy to let your guard down and leave a window rolled down or the car unlocked after you park.

Park as if you were in the worst area of the most dangerous city on Earth, even though you’re in one of the safest.

If you’re going into the wilderness, you’ll want to bring good hiking boots.

Bring plenty of water.

If you see a wildfire burning over the horizon, find out information about it before you even think of going into the hillsides.

Sometimes they are prescribed burns, other times it could be an out-of-control fire.

How Does Livermore Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You don't need any additional identification from the Visa requirements you handled at the airport.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the current here. There's not a large need for cash here, so one credit card should suffice. Credit cards offer the best identity theft or unapproved charge protection compared to debit cards or cash.

Weather

You get a little bit of diversity here with an average winter day having a high in the 50s and a low in the 30s. In spring and fall, you'll see more 70s and 40s. Summers bring highs in the upper 80s and lows in the 50s. You'll want to bring a jacket any time of year and always bring rain gear with you.

Airports

There are three options in the Bay Area. Oakland and San Jose's airports are 40 minutes away. San Francisco's airport is about an hour west, but what a beautiful drive over the bay to get there.

Travel Insurance

Fog, wildfires, and technical issues can easily cause delays in the Bay Area. You should get travel insurance to protect your trip.

Livermore Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

California - Safety by City