California : Safety by City
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The sheer amount of history in and around Simi Valley, California is enough of a reason to visit.
Much of it is well preserved, but some notable structures were destroyed by wildfires, including the famous “Little House on the Prairie” set.
Simi (pronounced: SEE-mee) Valley is an escape from busy city life in a more affordable setting with a family-friendly atmosphere.
It has historically ranked as one of the happiest cities in America and it’s not just because of the giant happiest face that greets people along the 118.
It’s also one of the safest cities of its size in the nation.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is here.
Bank of America has its loan division headquartered here.
There’s everything a tourist would want from shopping, dining, hotels, dozens of local parks, and any other amenities needed.
The hills and mountains around Simi Valley hold secrets.
True crime lovers will recognize the wilderness area as a place once home to the Manson Family.
Whether you like westerns, comedies, or dramas, there’s sure to be a favorite movie that was shot somewhere in the Simi Valley area.
Warnings & Dangers in Simi Valley
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low overall risk here. The crime rates are low. The town is welcome and inviting. People embrace history, look beyond historical blemishes, and look forward to developing this amazing slice of California life at a discounted price.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Simi Valley Transit is the local bus system. The popular MetroLink rail system comes through the city and can take people across the L.A. Basin. Rideshares and taxis are all available. The overall risk is low.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There were no pickpockets reported in 2020 and just two purse snatchings. This city has a low risk of being a pickpocket victim.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
You can't talk about Simi Valley natural disaster risks without mentioning the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The city and surrounding area suffered extensive damage and many roads in the region collapsed, cutting off access. Wildfires are also a risk here, and the Simi fire and Easy fire have both happened this century, destroying hundreds of thousands of acres. Those are the two biggest risks. Flooding and landslides are also risks. There's an overall medium risk here for natural disasters, so plan accordingly and educate yourself on these events.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of being mugged. The violent crime rate is 1/3 the national average and the whole city only had 170 robberies in 2020.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Since it's part of the greater Los Angeles metro area, it's going to be a medium risk. Large areas of the population with big tourist attractions and sporting events are going to be hot spots for terrorists.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
The big thing for travelers to look for is home rental scams. If you want to rent a house and not stay in a hotel, Simi Valley has many options. Scammers take advantage of this by posting photos of a home that isn't theirs and asking for a deposit via wire transfer in advance to secure the home rental. Never wire money and walk away from any landlord who asks for it. Overall, there's a low risk of being scammed, but make sure you verify the listing is legitimate before booking.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women have no additional reason to be worried about visiting Simi Valley. There's a low risk, but that assumes you're taking basic safety precautions like avoiding walking around late at night by yourself or meeting up in a private residence with someone you met online.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The water is low risk and the city waterworks division states in the 2020 Annual Water Quality Report, "The City/District diligently safeguards its water supplies and once again, we are proud to report that your tap water met all U.S. EPA and State drinking water health standards." It's important to note that Simi Valley's groundwater isn't safe, and the water supply for the city comes from Northern California.
Safest Places to Visit in Simi Valley
You have so many options in Simi Valley, from outdoor wilderness hikes to indoor history lessons to shopping and dining that could fill a whole day.
Start at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum.
It’s open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. daily.
In 2018, a hologram feature was added where Ronald Reagan speaks to visitors.
You can also walk through the Air Force One that hosted President Reagan and his team during his presidency.
Santa Susana Historic Park lives up to its name, with trails once walked by Native Americans, a former ranch used for dozens of movie sets, and caves that housed the Manson Family.
Get your morning run in on the Las Llojas Trail, with more than five miles of paved roads to run.
Bring your camera because you’ll find scenic views at every corner.
Bottle Village is an eclectic stop on your tour of Simi Valley, built with bottles pulled from local trash.
The official name is Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village, as she’s the one who built the home with its unique structure.
Most of the shopping sits along the Ronald Reagan Freeway at Tapo Canyon Road.
You’ll have options including the Simi Valley Promenade, Simi Valley Plaza, Tapo Oaks Center, and Simi Valley Town Center.
While you’re at the town center, check out the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
Places to Avoid in Simi Valley
The Ronald Regan Freeway splits the city horizontally.
According to crime mapping technology, the areas immediately south of the Freeway have a higher crime rate, and the western side of town has more crime than the eastern half.
All that said, you’re still in one of the safest American cities, so there’s not much worry about stumbling into a bad neighborhood.
Many of the crimes here are petty or non-violent, and car break-ins are among the highest percentages of thefts.
This isn’t a city where you can leave your car door unlocked or go shopping with the car windows rolled down.
Avoid going hiking without checking your favorite weather app, Inciweb fire reports, and the expected high temperatures of the day.
You don’t want to be five miles into a canyon when a thunderstorm kicks up or the winds shift on a nearby wildfire.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Simi Valley
- Sign up for VC Alert, an app that allows you to get instant emergency notifications from law enforcement and emergency management. You’ll be advised of any dangers in the area without repeatedly having to check local news websites.
- Nixle.com is another way to get great community safety information and warnings during your visit. The website covers many of the law enforcement in the L.A. area, and you’ll always be aware of crimes or closures happening in the areas you plan to visit.
- To prevent power lines and transformers from starting wildfires, the utility might shut off power to a large area in advance of a strong thunderstorm of extreme winds. This power outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. The outages can last for days, so bring a portable phone charger with you.
- If you read the history of the wildfires in this area, you’ll see visual examples of how quickly winds can shift in a wildfire and send the flaming front going in a different direction. Because of this, any report of a wildfire nearby should make you prepare for a potential evacuation.
- If you see or suspect drug activity happening during your visit to Simi Hills, call the Narcotics Hotline at (805) 583-6210.
- It’s really easy to search for the most up-to-date crime reports in the area where you’ll be staying in Simi Valley. There’s a crime map function on the police department’s website. You can search by date range, crime type, and address.
- Any city you visit, no matter how safe, is going to have homeless people that resort to panhandling to get money. Avoid donating to a specific person and instead donate to a homeless organization. The city has a goal of reducing homelessness by 10% each year, and any donations help in that cause.
- If you are out hiking and there’s part of a park blocked off, don’t cross that line. When wildfires destroy acres of land, there’s a specific healing process that is a combination of man and nature to restore it.
- There’s a lot of poison oak in the hills and mountains around Simi Valley. Learn to identify this plant visually and stay away from it when you see it. If you do touch it, immediately wash your hands with soap and water. Anti-bacterial gel or plain water won’t help. Cover up as much as you can while hiking. If you do come in contact with poison oak, you’ll get a nasty, itchy rash. Use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone to treat a poison ivy rash.
- There are just six hotels in Simi Valley, so book early. Neighboring cities also have hotels, but if you need to stay in Simi Valley, you’ll find the bulk of the hotels along the Ronald Reagan Freeway.
So... How Safe Is Simi Valley Really?
It’s among the top 25 safest cities in California by crime rates.
The city hasn’t had more than three homicides in a year dating back to 2010.
The average crime rate in the country is 399 per 100,000 people.
In Simi Valley, that number is 132 per 100,000.
The most expensive part of the robbery statistics came from stolen cars.
The largest number of thefts came from automobiles.
Shoplifting was the second-highest theft category.
You have a 1 in 756 chance of being a robbery victim and a 1 in 122 chance of being a theft victim.
Those two purse snatchings I mentioned earlier were valued at $118, so follow the lead of those victims and don’t carry around a large amount of cash or valuables in your purse.
People come to Simi Valley for its lower crime rates, yet still a reasonable commuter’s distance to Los Angeles.
You can feel safe here, but you shouldn’t treat it like a small town where you can throw caution to the wind.
How Does Simi Valley Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Simi Valley | 84 |
| Honolulu | 65 |
| Chicago | 65 |
| Dallas | 64 |
| Memphis | 54 |
| Orlando | 64 |
| Las Vegas | 62 |
| Sydney (Australia) | 80 |
| Santiago de Chile (Chile) | 71 |
| Vienna (Austria) | 88 |
| Hong Kong (China) | 70 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Tianjin (China) | 67 |
Useful Information
Visas
If you got through customs at the airport or port of entry with your Visa, you're all set to be in Simi Valley. You don't have to go through any other process to visit.
Currency
You'll use the U.S. Dollar here. You might want to have some cash available in case of a power outage, but keep it stored in a safe until you need it.
Weather
While the average summer high is in the low 80s, people here do complain about the heat. Heatwaves can get temperatures into the 90s or near triple digits. The summer lows are in the 50s, so you'll need to pack layers of t-shirts and sweatshirts. Winters are mild with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Santa Ana winds can pick up here in the late fall and early winter, so be sure to pack items that won't blow away easily.
Airports
Hollywood Burbank Airport is the closest option 30 miles east. LAX is less than an hour away. If you have a private plane, you can use Van Nuys Airport 25 miles away.
Travel Insurance
Simi Valley has shown how damaging major natural disasters can impact travel, so be sure to get travel insurance for your trip to this area.
Simi Valley Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 17 |
| Low °C | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 |
| High °F | 64 | 64 | 68 | 68 | 72 | 75 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 63 |
| Low °F | 50 | 46 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 55 | 52 | 48 |
This post gives a clear picture of what to expect in Simi Valley. It’s reassuring to see the crime rates laid out so clearly. Thanks!
Super informative! It’s great to know that Simi Valley has such low crime rates. Thanks for the detailed analysis!