Is Redwood City Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On May 2, 2022
Redwood City, United States
Safety Index:
85
* Based on Research & Crime Data
User Sentiment:
100
* Rated 100 / 100 based on 1 user reviews.

If you’ve ever enjoyed any of the Tomb Raider games, you’ve already experienced a slice of Redwood City, California.

This is a Silicon Valley city with tech giants like Oracle, Electronic Arts, and Evernote.

Redwood City is less than 30 miles from San Francisco but still holds its own as a unique destination settled on the west side of the bay.

It also houses a deepwater port, the only one on the south side of the bay.

There you can buy fish fresh off the fisherman’s boat.

The city also has its very own island.

You’re not going to find a voracious nightlife here, but there are pockets of places where you can get a nice night out on the town, and even try out a Michelin-star rated Sushi restaurant.

What you will get from Redwood City, is a safe, quaint place to rest your weary head after a day of exploring the greater area.

Warnings & Dangers in Redwood City

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here. The crime rate is half the California average. This is a charming town without a big city feel.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Caltrain runs through here, with a connection to San Francisco. SamTrans will get you around San Mateo County. The Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) does not make it this far south. You can also grab a taxi or use rideshare services. All are low-risk.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

You don't have to worry about this. There were just three pickpockets reported in 2020 and overall theft rates are pretty low (1 in 86). There's a low risk.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Redwood City is subject to earthquakes, thunderstorms that lead to power outages ahead of the storm, and wildfire impacts. There's a medium risk and it's best to study up on the emergency management guidelines provided by the city on its website.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's just a one in 1,453 chance of being a victim of a robbery here. That's a low risk. There were just 58 robberies reported in Redwood City in 2020.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk here with so many big tech companies and military installations nearby, not to mention the large population that would be impacted. Homeland Security is aware of the risks and takes proper steps to keep residents and visitors safe.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are basic run-of-the-mill scams here, mostly targeting locals. You have a low risk of being scammed as a visitor.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel confident and safe about traveling here. Nothing in the crime numbers suggests women are more at risk. There's a low risk.

Tap Water Risk

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The water here is safe to drink and comes with low risk. It meets or exceeds all requirements and the city has a detailed annual report to show what's in the drinking water in case you have any sensitivities to tap water.

Safest Places to Visit in Redwood City

You can escape to an island in Redwood City on Bair Island, which is, as the city says, “a complex mosaic of twisted tidal channels, mudflats, and salt marsh vegetation.”

There are more than 3,000 acres to explore here.

The San Mateo History Museum is a great place to learn about this region.

Wait, did you just roll your eyes at me for telling you to go to a museum?

Ok, how about this?

Check out Woodside Store Park and see a refurbished example of a real-life old-time General Store.

Russian Ridge Preserve is a great way to get scenic views of the Bay area and hike or bike through more than 3,000 acres.

If you visit in the spring, you must come here to see the wildflowers.

Downtown Redwood City is the most exciting part of the city.

Not only does it have idyllic street views with shopping and dining options, live music often fills the square at night and there are plenty of community parades that go through here as well.

If you don’t have enough time on your trip to make it to wine country, check out La Honda Winery right in Redwood City.

Crime maps show what little crime there is here gets spread out throughout the community, with a harder focus on the central part of the city.

Places to Avoid in Redwood City

If you’re a video gamer like me, you’d be tempted to just walk right up to Electronic Arts (EA) and demand a tour since you’re so in love with the games and want to meet the people behind them.

Tours are not regularly offered.

You can sign up to be a Playtester and there is a location for Playtesters in Redwood City.

Not gonna lie, I signed up while writing this article.

Other than that, there aren’t bad parts of Redwood City.

This is a very residential area providing homes for the Silicon Valley company employees and it’s an expensive area in which to live.

There’s a homeless camp near Buckeye Street and Chew Street, so that’s a good area to avoid just so you don’t get harassed for money.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Redwood City

  1. If you’re going to be hunting or fishing on Bair Island, you’ll need a license from the California Department of Wildlife. You can fill out the information ahead of time or get it when you arrive. Don’t try to skirt the system. You can get a citation for hunting or fishing without a license.
  2. Sign up for SMCAlerts when you get to town so you can be aware of any weather or civil emergencies that happen. All you need to do is text your hotel’s zip code to 888777.
  3. There might be times the power is shut off as a storm approaches or if strong winds are forecast. This is to prevent transformers or power lines from starting a wildfire. It’s going to seem off to some travelers, but it’s a perfectly normal process that happens in this part of California.
  4. For getting around the entire Bay area, CalTrans is your savior. You’ll see traffic and delays reported in real-time and can check out live cameras to see the weather where you’re going.
  5. Don’t leave the car unlocked or the windows rolled down when you park it. 240 cars were stolen in Redwood City in 2020 to the tune of $2.2 million. If you get a rental car, ask for one with an alarm. Keep all valuables at the hotel and if you need them, take them with you. Never leave them in the car in plain sight.
  6. All local police news releases are sent out through a system called Nixle. Anyone can sign up for it and that will put the latest crime information right in your hands during the visit.
  7. A trip to Bair Island isn’t going to be a quiet getaway if it’s important to you. The highway noise is relentless and there are also small planes landing at a nearby airport. It doesn’t take away from the beauty of the island, but if getting away from the noise is important to you, head west to some of those areas where it’s so remote you won’t even get cell phone service.
  8. El Camino Real is one of the most dangerous roads in Redwood City for bicycle accidents. In five years, 226 crashes have happened here with 197 injuries reported from those crashes. Whether you are in a car or on a bike, use extra caution on this busy roadway.
  9. The police department in Redwood City subscribes to a live crime map so you can search the area where you’ll be staying for recent crimes. The latest data available officially is from 2020, and that was a pandemic year, so updated crime mapping will be a great place to find current crime information.
  10. Things might get a little shaky while you’re here. It’s not uncommon to have smaller earthquakes and it doesn’t mean a big one is coming. For people who live here, this is just a normal part of life. However, it’s a good reminder to study up earthquake safety before you go.

So... How Safe Is Redwood City Really?

There just aren’t a lot of places where large amounts of crime can occur here.

It’s a community of 1.2 million dollars homes and people who make enough money ($117,000 on average) to afford security systems.

There isn’t a big nightlife area or huge tourist attractions to lead to crimes of opportunity.

By the numbers, you have a one in 448 chance of being a violent crime victim and a one in 56 chance of being a property crime victim.

However, property crime includes all crimes involving property, including home break-ins and such.

Not many property crimes affect tourists unless they have a car or are a victim of theft.

There’s a one in 970 chance of being a theft victim, and that’s among the lowest I’ve seen in my research.

One Redditor reported, “Personally, I think Redwood City is the nicest place to live on the Peninsula.”

Another commented, “Redwood City isn’t exciting at all.

It was really easy to save money because it’s so boring there.

Easy access to green spaces and nice weather was a huge plus.

World-class hiking and biking trails are just up the mountain.

It’s a non-culture kinda place.”

How Does Redwood City Compare?

CitySafety Index
Redwood City85
Baltimore56
Boston67
Washington DC56
New York City67
Detroit56
San Diego67
Calgary (Canada)82
Buenos Aires (Argentina)60
Vancouver (Canada)82
Cordoba (Argentina)61
Toronto (Canada)81
Melbourne (Australia)80

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

You'll be all set with the Visa requirements once you leave the airport. You won't need any additional ID to be in Redwood City. Don't forget that fishing or hunting license, though.

Currency

Currency

You'll use the U.S. Dollar and you might find some places that will use cryptocurrency. You don't need to carry cash here as everything can be purchased using credit cards for payment via your mobile device if you're set up for that.

Weather

Weather

You're going to need a jacket and wet shoes here. The coldest day you'll see, on average, is a high of 59°(F) and a low of 40°(F). The hottest days will be 82° with a low of 56°(F). The wet shoes are for spending time on Bair Island. There isn't a lot of rainfall here, so feel free to leave rain gear behind.

Airports

Airports

San Francisco International Airport will be your best bet. It's just 15 minutes away. Norman Y. Minera San Jose International Airport is 25 minutes in the other direction. Oakland International Airport is 40 minutes away with a breath-taking view of the bay.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

You'll want travel insurance for your trip to Redwood City. The San Francisco fog is notorious for leading to canceled flights, and wildfires can also send smoke into the city, which could lead to more delays.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Redwood City Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 10° C
Feb 12° C
Mar 13° C
Apr 15° C
May 17° C
Jun 19° C
Jul 21° C
Aug 21° C
Sep 20° C
Oct 17° C
Nov 13° C
Dec 10° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
151719212326282827241815
Low
°C
567810121313121074
High
°F
596366707379828281756459
Low
°F
414345465054555554504539

California - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Alameda86
Alhambra84
Anaheim73
Bakersfield66
Barstow62
Berkeley64
Burbank86
Chino Hills82
Chula Vista81
Compton41
Concord74
Costa Mesa83
Daly City76
El Cajon86
El Monte76
Escondido91
Eureka87
Fairfield85
Fontana68
Fremont74
Fresno38
Fullerton74
Garden Grove78
Hawthorne62
Hayward87
Hemet65
Huntington Beach78
Indio89
Inglewood68
Irvine82
Lake Forest83
Lancaster64
Livermore87
Long Beach63
Los Angeles56
Merced92
Milpitas91
Mission Viejo85
Modesto64
Moreno Valley82
Mountain View87
Newport Beach84
Norwalk79
Oakland57
Oceanside85
Oxnard63
Palm Springs65
Palmdale78
Pasadena78
Pomona61
Rancho Cucamonga91
Redding71
Redlands86
Redondo Beach88
Redwood City85
Rialto58
Riverside57
Sacramento51
Salinas64
San Bernardino63
San Diego67
San Francisco61
San Jose58
San Leandro78
San Luis Obispo88
San Mateo84
Santa Ana71
Santa Barbara72
Santa Clara82
Santa Clarita76
Santa Cruz94
Santa Monica64
Santa Rosa91
Simi Valley84
South Gate63
Stockton38
Sunnyvale87
Temecula87
Thousand Oaks86
Torrance86
Union City88
Vallejo65
Ventura76
Victorville63
West Covina88
Yreka93

Where to Next?

1 Review on Redwood City

  1. B
    Blake Fox says:

    I recently took a family trip to Redwood City, and we never encountered any safety concerns. The city’s well-lit streets and friendly locals made us feel right at home.

Redwood City Rated 5 / 5 based on 1 user reviews.

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