Alameda County, located in California, encompasses the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area and boasts a significant blend of communities. With a population of approximately 1.7 million individuals, it’s home to various cities and towns like Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, and Hayward.
While many parts of the county enjoy safety and prosperity, there are certain neighborhoods grappling with elevated crime and violence rates.
As of 2020, based on data from NeighborhoodScout, here are the top five most hazardous neighborhoods in Alameda County, California:
East Oakland:
Found in the eastern sector of Oakland, which serves as the county seat and the largest city, East Oakland recorded the highest count of violent crimes in the county during 2020.
The reported incidents amounted to 3,798, resulting in a violent crime rate of 22.8 per 1,000 residents. This rate surpasses the county average of 6.9, more than tripling it. Predominant violent offenses included aggravated assault (2,508 cases), robbery (1,082 cases), and homicide (208 cases).
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West Oakland:
Situated on the western outskirts of Oakland, neighboring downtown and the port, West Oakland experienced the second-highest number of violent crimes in the county during 2020.
There were 1,378 reported incidents, leading to a violent crime rate of 19.7 per 1,000 residents. This rate was nearly three times greater than the county average. The most prevalent violent crimes consisted of aggravated assault (921 cases), robbery (376 cases), and homicide (81 cases).
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South Berkeley:
Positioned in the southern region of Berkeley, a city situated in the northern part of the county, South Berkeley ranked third in terms of violent crimes reported in the county during 2020.
The tally reached 1,016, translating to a violent crime rate of 18.3 per 1,000 residents, which was over twice the county average. Leading violent offenses included aggravated assault (691 cases), robbery (287 cases), and homicide (38 cases).
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Ashland:
Ashland, an unincorporated community in the county’s central area with an approximate population of 25,000, took fourth place for violent crimes reported in the county during 2020.
The total stood at 415 incidents, reflecting a violent crime rate of 16.6 per 1,000 residents, more than double the county average. Primary violent crimes encompassed aggravated assault (284 cases), robbery (113 cases), and homicide (18 cases).
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San Lorenzo:
San Lorenzo, an unincorporated community in the central part of the county with an estimated population of 24,000, held the fifth position for violent crimes reported in the county during 2020.
The count reached 393 incidents, leading to a violent crime rate of 16.4 per 1,000 residents, again more than double the county average. The predominant violent crimes were aggravated assault (268 cases), robbery (106 cases), and homicide (19 cases).
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Conclusion
In conclusion, these neighborhoods grapple not only with violent crimes but also with property crimes like burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. In 2020, Alameda County’s property crime rate was 28 per 1,000 residents, slightly lower than the national median of 19 per 1,000 residents.
Nevertheless, certain neighborhoods exhibited considerably higher rates of property crime. For instance, East Oakland’s property crime rate was 51 per 1,000 residents, nearly twice the county average. Similarly, West Oakland’s property crime rate was 47 per 1,000 residents, exceeding the county average.