California : Safety by City
- Alameda
- Alhambra
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Barstow
- Berkeley
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- Chino Hills
- Chula Vista
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- Santa Clara
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- Santa Rosa
- Simi Valley
- South Gate
- Stockton
- Sunnyvale
- Temecula
- Thousand Oaks
- Torrance
- Union City
- Vallejo
- Ventura
- Victorville
- West Covina
- Yreka
Chino Hills, California, is an upscale community designed for people who want the benefits of a major metropolitan area but don’t want to live in the city.
There’s plenty of open space in Chino Hills, as the community is still growing.
Custom-built homes aren’t uncommon here and the amenities are built around the day-to-day life of a local.
There are two golf courses here, but only one is open to the public.
Chino Hills State Park is the gem in the crown of the city, with more than 14,000 acres to explore.
You can walk through grasslands, climb mountains, go for a ride on horseback, or whittle the day away looking at wildflowers.
You’ve got plenty of shopping and dining options beyond the traditional big-box stores and chain restaurants.
You’ll meet some of the nicest people in Chino Hills as well.
Warnings & Dangers in Chino Hills
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low overall risk here. Crime rates are very low compared to national and state crime statistics. Many social media comments state how little traffic there is, compared to other cities, and how short wait times are for restaurants. Don't share that information though, the people who live there want to keep it a secret. (Kinda kidding, but not really.)
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
You can take Omniride to get anywhere you need to be in the city. Taxis and rideshares are also available. All options come with low risk.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There were just six pickpockets or purse snatching reported in 2020, so that's a low risk. The only place to worry about this too much is when you are out shopping.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Earthquakes and wildfires are the two biggest concerns here. The city has a comprehensive emergency plan for all agencies. There's even advice on how to pack a "to go" bag in case of an evacuation or disaster. It's good to know for planning purposes so you can pack ahead of time.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of mugging. Most robberies that happen are from cars or trucks, so be sure to lock up your vehicle and roll up the windows before you go.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Chino Hills might be on its own island of sorts, but it's still part of a major metropolitan area. That means there's medium risk.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Watch out for rental scams. There aren't a lot of places to rent here as I looked through the popular websites, so that could trigger a scam artist to list a home that isn't available, yet still asking a traveler to wire money ahead of time to secure the reservation. That's the first sign of a scam. That said, there's a low risk of being scammed here. It's just important to know about that rental scam risk.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk for a woman traveling here. Crime is low, the streets are safe, and the shopping and dining options are plentiful.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of using tap water. The city did get fined for not posting annual reports of the water quality, but the 2020 report is now posted. The city is also building a $20 million water treatment facility to keep the water safe and lower the cost.
Safest Places to Visit in Chino Hills
Chino Hills State Park is a popular place to enjoy the beautiful weather.
In spring, you can see wildflowers for miles through the grassy hills.
If you climb the tallest peaks here, you can see all the way to the ocean.
The Shoppes at Chino Hills marks a hot spot for shopping, dining, and meeting new people.
There’s an interactive fountain and a train ride called the Rocky Road Express.
Give your karma a boost by visiting BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills, a Hindu temple open to the public.
Golfers will love the Los Serranos Golf Club, where it feels like a private country club but it’s open to the public.
You can try everything from a lesson to around at one of two 18-hole championship courses.
There is the North Course and the South Course.
Places to Avoid in Chino Hills
There is no bad part of town here.
The only thing to avoid is trying to sneak through the gate of a private community to look around.
That’s going to get the neighbors suspicious and might get you pulled over by the HOA or a police officer.
Aside from a few outdoor adventures, this isn’t a big tourist destination city.
There are 5 hotels right along the Chino Valley Freeway, but that’s all the choices you have.
Even rental homes are few and far between here.
I looked on Airbnb and there were 4 choices.
When you look at the map of Chino Hills, you’ll see a good chunk of the west side if just undeveloped land.
There might be parts of that part that are blocked off with caution tape.
Avoid crossing that boundary.
It could be from fire damage, erosion, or unstable ground.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Chino Hills
- If you go hiking in the area around Chino Hills, look, but don’t touch the wildflowers. It’s illegal to pick them, so you’ll have to be satisfied with just the pictures.
- The Hindu temple is open to the public, but there are certain hours throughout the day when part of the property is closed. Check the schedule on their website to see if you can make it there while everything is open to exploring. There are some cultural guidelines you’ll need to follow, such as covering shoulders and knees with clothing, removing your shoes when entering, and refraining from displaying affection while you are there. Full rules are detailed on the website.
- Chino Hills provides emergency alerts on social media and the city website, and you can also call the road closure hotline at 909-364-2828. If you’d like, you can sign up for e-notifications as well through email.
- If you see graffiti, call the hotline at (909) 364-2820. Graffiti is a problem throughout the region, and Chino Hills is no different. Graffiti can be an indication of gang activity, so it’s important to get it removed quickly.
- Something might stink in Chino Hills. The city uses reclaimed water for some landscaping at golf courses and parks. This is part of water conservation efforts. If you haven’t heard of it before, reclaimed water is sewage water cleaned just enough to be okay for irrigation, but not for human touch or consumption. It can have a strong rotten egg smell to it, as a warning to stay away from any area being irrigated with reclaimed water until the water is absorbed.
- IE511.org is the best source for updated traffic information in the Inland Empire. You’ll have access to freeway cameras too. The website and app are free to use.
- Check before you go to Chino Hills State Park. When there are strong winds, the park is closed. If more than a quarter-inch of rain falls, the park will be closed for two days, and if there is extreme fire danger – even if a fire isn’t burning – the park will be closed.
- If you are camping at Chino Hills State Park, the gates get locked overnight and you can’t leave unless you’ve made arrangements with the park rangers. Bring all you need for the night when you arrive, or else you’ll be stuck.
- There are rattlesnakes in Chino Hills and with so much to do outdoors, you should learn the basic safety tips. I found the Chino Hills Park website giving great advice, and a little bit of humor, so I’ll let them explain, “Snakes are more willing to leave you alone and find something more manageable to strike and eat (unless you try to take a selfie with it). Notify a park employee so that the snake can be returned to a more suitable location to live. Do not try to relocate or pick up the snake yourself.”
- When a Red Flag Warning is issued, that means conditions are ripe for a wildfire to start with low humidity, dry ground, and high winds. Even small things need to be considered during a red flag warning, like no cigarette butts thrown out of a moving car, no open flames of any kind (looking at you, firepits), and avoiding driving a car on the grass.
So... How Safe Is Chino Hills Really?
It’s safe just looking at the city itself, but it’s impressively safe looking at some of the surrounding areas that aren’t quite as safe.
That safety comes with a price for residents.
The home prices are soaring here, and the average cost is $622,000.
The average family makes $106,000 a year and the poverty rate is just 6%.
I’ve done crime math for hundreds of cities now, and I had to triple check the violent crime rate in Chino Hills because it was so low.
The chance of being a victim of violent crime is one in 700.
Most cities I’ve researched in California and Florida are around one in 200-300.
Theft rates I’ve seen are generally one in 40-70, but in Chino Hills, that risk is one in 140.
The only crime rate above the national average is robbery and 1/3 of those were car thefts.
The biggest complaint, especially from single people under 30, is that there isn’t much to do, especially if you aren’t an outdoors person.
One Redditor summed it up like this:
“Nothing much to do there other than eat and go to the movies.
The cool thing is you are centrally located in SoCal.
You are 30 minutes to LA, 20 minutes to the OC and Riverside, and an hour and a half to San Diego.”
How Does Chino Hills Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Chino Hills |
82 |
 Hershey |
82 |
 Kanab |
79 |
 Kitty Hawk |
79 |
 Shelter Island |
85 |
 Baker City |
77 |
 South Fulton |
48 |
 Vienna | 88 |
 Fortaleza | 37 |
 Rennes | 65 |
 Popayan | 31 |
| Curitiba | 51 |
 Baghdad | 43 |
Useful Information
Visas
You're all set with your Visa if you get through customs at the airport or port of entry. You don't need additional verification to be in Chino Hills.
Currency
You'll be using the U.S. Dollar here and in the entire region. You don't need to carry cash here, as every place takes credit cards. Be sure to keep your receipts from purchases so you can shred them before discarding them.
Weather
You'll love the weather here. It barely gets into the 60s during the coldest days of the year, but those winter nighttime lows get into the 40s until May. Summer heats up to the upper 80s and low 90s, with lows in the upper 50s and 60s. Wildfire season is in the second half of the year, and it can get pretty windy in Chino Hills, so bring items that won't get blown away easily.
Airports
The Ontario airport is the closest option, just 16 miles northwest. Long Beach Airport is 55 minutes away and John Wayne Airport in Orange County is 45 minutes away. You'll spend an hour and a half getting to Los Angeles International Airport. The airport in San Bernardino is about an hour away. That's one great thing about Los Angeles - there are plenty of airport options.
Travel Insurance
You'll want travel insurance for a trip to Chino Hills. Wildfire risks can shut down parks ahead of time, and major roads can be closed off. There's also the risk of flight cancellations due to impacted flight paths.
Chino Hills Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 27 | 23 | 20 |
| Low °C |
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
| High °F |
68 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 79 | 84 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 81 | 73 | 68 |
| Low °F |
43 | 45 | 46 | 48 | 54 | 57 | 61 | 61 | 59 | 54 | 46 | 43 |
