Is Vallejo Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

I’m going to tell you about Vallejo, California, on one condition — you have to forget anything negative you’ve heard about it.

This city straddles the east side of San Francisco Bay and has a long-standing reputation for being “so dangerous.”

That might be true, it might not be, but let’s explore the facts before we rely on hearsay.

Vallejo (pronounced: Vuh-LAY-oh) is a place locals go to escape the high housing prices of the Bay area and the hours spent commuting by car.

It was once the largest city in California to file for bankruptcy (it has since come out of bankruptcy).

True Crime junkies might remember the Zodiac Killer had several victims from this area as he terrorized Northern California.

It’s home to a Six Flags Theme Park, Mare Island (which is a former Naval Base redesigned for locals), and many outdoor attractions for hiking and fishing.

You’re also just 40 minutes from Napa.

Vallejo also loves to celebrate heritage and it shows through a variety of festivals throughout the year, so definitely check if there’s a festival happening during your visit.

Warnings & Dangers in Vallejo

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk here for a variety of factors we'll explore in this article. The crime rates are high, and after years of dipping, they popped back up in 2020 in some key areas.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

I'm going to say this first because it seemed like the biggest deal during my research. There is no Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station here. You can get to it using the Solano Express bus system. It also goes to Sacramento. There's also Soltrans, which will get you between Fairfield and Richmond. You can also ditch the car and take the San Francisco Bay Ferry to the city if you'd like, and there's even alcohol available on board. It saves an hour of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, right? There's low risk with any option you take here, with the caveat of being low risk when you are on the transportation method. Waiting at the stops can get a little dicey, so always have your head on a swivel while waiting. Don't get buried in your smartphone with your briefcase on the ground.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Of all the crime categories that are going up, larceny/theft is the one that took a dip. There were 20 reports in 2020, but since it's a pandemic year, I went back to 2019. 43 pickpockets or purse snatching that year. The lower theft rate is the good news. The bad news is the violent crime rate is high. More to come on that. Either way, it's a medium risk, more for the potential than staggering high numbers.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Here are the risks listed on the Solano County Emergency Management website: Earthquake, Wildfire, Flood, Power Outage, Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), Extreme Heat, and Air Quality. So..... medium risk for sure.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Robbery rates have dropped 32% in the past decade. 25% of the robberies in 2020 were "highway robberies", which are the most likely to impact travelers. While the numbers tell me to give it a low risk, there's another issue to be discussed shortly that will make you understand why it's medium risk.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

This is a large metro area, home to some of the best tech companies in the world, and the best military brains we have. Terrorists would love to strike San Francisco. There's a medium risk, but a lot of security planning to keep it safe.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are no outstanding scam concerns reported right now, and even the police department just links to an FBI website with common nationwide scams, so let's give this a low risk.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

The rape percentages here are 41% higher than the national average and have been going up since 2017. While there's a one in 940 risks of being a victim, the increasing numbers, violent crime rate, and gang activity here make us give extra caution with a medium risk rating.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Finally, a low-risk rating. The water here meets or exceeds all required levels from the state and EPA.

Safest Places to Visit in Vallejo

Military members and their families, or even military fans, will love the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum and the Mare Island Museum.

You’ll also get great views of the water.

Bonus:

This is also one of the lowest crime areas in the city.

The kids will love Children’s Wonderland, where they cross a moat and enter a castle into a world of fun.

There you can play like royalty all day and even ride in a Pumpkin Carriage.

Thrillseekers will want to check out Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and either ride the Dare Devil Chaos Coaster or stay on the ground with me at the Animal Nursery.

There are a handful of golf courses for those who want to get in 18 holes, and anglers can head to Mare Island Strait and catch some striped bass or white sturgeon.

The closest city to the wine country is Napa, which is 15 miles north.

Places to Avoid in Vallejo

Here’s one Redditor’s response to this topic:

“But in all honesty, I would not say that there are any “good” areas in Vallejo.

This is due to the ghetto population, homeless problems, and the excessive amounts of street crime, gangs, etc. which pretty much affect all areas to various degrees.”

Then there’s this take, “I love living in Vallejo, sure it has crimes, but my experience overall is pretty good.

People will test you though, especially if you look like they can take you.”

I want to touch on that last comment for a minute because this seems to be a common thread in posts about Vallejo.

There’s an overriding sense of “if you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it” here and this isn’t the town to play “tough” with others.

This is a town with heavy gang activity weaved in for decades, no “tough-talking tourist” is going to change anything.

Neighborhoods that are littered with graffiti should be avoided, as that’s a clear sign of gang activity, especially if you see the number 13 spraypainted on buildings or meet people with 13s tattooed on them.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Vallejo

So... How Safe Is Vallejo Really?

As of early 2022, one of the biggest challenges facing the Vallejo Police Department is having enough police officers.

The Vallejo Police Officer’s Association says officers are leaving for higher-paying jobs in nearby communities or retiring, while there aren’t enough cadets passing the entrance requirements to become an officer.

“Low staffing continues to surpass what is critical for the safety of the public and our officers,” said a press release by VPOA.

“Additionally, it severely hampers our ability to provide basic police service.”

At one point the staffing was just at 66% of budgeted staffing.

This is on top of an increase in homicides, rapes, assaults, auto theft, and arson in 2020, a pandemic year when many jurisdictions saw crime plummet due to lockdowns and closures.

For my money, staying in nearby Fairfield is a much safer option for anyone who isn’t used to crimes in a big city or gang activity.

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, so I’m inherently used to a certain amount of crime.

Someone from a smaller, safer town might find Vallejo scary.

Another person from the south side of Chicago won’t.

The violent crime rate is what stands out to me, as I’ve researched crime statistics in dozens of U.S. cities.

Usually, I get a little hesitant when the violent crime rate goes under a one in 200 chance of being a victim.

In Vallejo, the chance is one in 104.

Much of that is gang-on-gang activity, so you have to take it with a grain of salt.

Until the police staffing issues are resolved, this wouldn’t be the city I’d recommend for a family vacation.

You can make your own decision about how safe you feel in a city like Vallejo, which does have a great location with beautiful bay views.

How Does Vallejo Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Once you've entered through customs at the airport or port of entry, you are set for a trip to Vallejo. No additional identification is needed.

Currency

You'll use the U.S. Dollar here and please don't carry a lot of it around with you. Everything you need can be purchased with a credit card or payment set up on your mobile device.

Weather

Vallejo is a warmer side of the San Francisco Bay area. You'll get a little bit of a seasonal change. Winter lows get into the 30s, so a coat would be advised. Highs will be in the 50s, so dress in layers. Summers warm up to almost 80°(F) with lows still in the 50s. Vallejo also breaks that "foggy" stereotype of the Bay area by having 258 days of sunshine. Rain gear might be needed, but if you don't have room in the suitcase you can skip it.

Airports

Oakland is going to have the closest airport, but it's still a 35-mile drive. San Francisco's airport is 42 miles away, but you get a gorgeous drive over the bay. San Jose's airport is 66 miles away, and it's a shorter drive to Sacramento's airport at 62 miles away. At least you've got a lot of great options to find the best airfare!

Travel Insurance

With all the weather and disaster risks here, you're going to want travel insurance to protect your trip to Vallejo, California.

Vallejo Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

California - Safety by City