El Segundo, CA, is a coastal city of 16,544 residents in Los Angeles County - and if you're trying to buy here, you already know the market doesn't wait around. Available homes are spending roughly 8 days on the market and closing at around 107% of list price. With only 36 homes in active inventory and a median sale price around $1.31 million as of mid-2026, most buyers want a clear picture of the crime landscape before committing to living in El Segundo, CA. That's what this is.

What the Crime Data Says About El Segundo

The headline number is this: the FBI reported El Segundo's overall crime rate at 5,976.8 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2024, which runs about 182% higher than the national average. City-Data puts the crime index at 430 for the same year - 1.8 times the U.S. average. That said, the City-Data index also showed a 10% drop compared to the prior year, which matters when you're trying to read direction.

California's 2024 total crime rate was 2,679.3 per 100,000 residents, essentially in line with the national average. USAFacts breaks that down as a statewide violent crime rate of 486 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,078 per 100,000. El Segundo's numbers are higher than those baselines, and the gap is largely explained by property crime along the city's commercial corridors - not violent offenses.

Property and Violent Crime Rates

El Segundo's 2024 FBI violent crime rate came in at 512.5 per 100,000 people, representing 83 reported incidents. That's about 5.4% above California's statewide rate of 486.0 per 100,000, and roughly 42.7% above the national rate. It's higher than the state baseline, yes - but violent crime isn't what's driving the city's overall index.

Property crime is. The rate of 5,464.3 per 100,000 people accounts for the bulk of local incidents, with 885 property crimes reported in 2024. That puts the city about 162.9% above California's statewide property crime rate.

Where those incidents happen is worth knowing. Commercial corridors near Sepulveda Boulevard and the airport perimeter see a disproportionate share - mostly vehicle break-ins. The beachside residential blocks near El Segundo Beach record far fewer incidents, a pattern that holds with the area's high homeownership rates and the kind of neighbor familiarity that tends to deter opportunistic crime.

Trend data is a bit mixed depending on the source. City-Data showed a 10% overall crime rate drop from 2023 to 2024. A separate FBI-data analysis found a 15.1% total crime decrease over the same period alongside a 13.1% rise in violent crime. Neither number cancels out the other - they're measuring slightly different things, and both are worth keeping in mind.

Public Safety and Emergency Services

The El Segundo Police Department handled local law enforcement in 2024 with 83 full-time staff members, including 61 sworn officers. That's up from 2023, when the department had 75 employees and 57 officers. Over the past few years, the sworn officer count has generally moved between 53 and 61.

The department runs out of a central headquarters with 24-hour patrol coverage across the city, and it works alongside the El Segundo Fire Department on emergency medical and fire response. For a city this size, the officer-to-resident ratio is higher than you'd find in many neighboring Los Angeles County municipalities - which translates to consistent coverage on both residential streets and the commercial corridors that need it most.

Environmental and Natural Hazards

On wildfire risk, Augurisk's climate risk analysis gives El Segundo a "Very Low" designation - not a surprise for a dense coastal city, but worth having on record.

Flood risk is harder to generalize because it varies by street and elevation. For any specific property, you'll want to run the address through FEMA's Flood Map Service Center directly rather than rely on a neighborhood-level approximation.

El Segundo Beach gives residents direct Pacific Ocean access and runs quieter than many neighboring coastal spots. Standard practice for Southern California: check state and county resources for current water quality before swimming, and follow posted signs regarding ocean conditions.

What Living in El Segundo Is Like

El Segundo accounts for less than 0.2% of Los Angeles County's total population. At just over 16,500 residents, it has a pace that feels genuinely different from the county surrounding it. The downtown stretch along Main Street is walkable, with local restaurants, cafes, and small businesses concentrated in a few blocks. There are community parks and recreational facilities spread through the city.

On commute logistics: Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate 105 are both immediately accessible. The location just south of Los Angeles International Airport makes air travel easy - though flight paths are a real factor depending on which part of the city you're looking in, and buyers should account for that during their search.

The market, as noted, moves fast. Roughly 75% of properties sell above list price, and the average days-on-market sits at about 8. If you're not already working with someone who knows this inventory, that's the first thing to fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the crime rate in El Segundo compare to neighboring South Bay cities like Manhattan Beach?

The available data benchmarks El Segundo against state and national averages rather than specific neighboring towns. El Segundo's 2024 total crime rate of 5,976.8 per 100,000 residents is higher than California's state average of 2,679.3 per 100,000, with most of that difference driven by property crimes in commercial areas.

Is property crime a major issue for homeowners in El Segundo, CA?

It's the most common offense in the city. The 2024 property crime rate was 5,464.3 per 100,000 people - about 162.9% above the state average. The concentration is along commercial corridors like Sepulveda Boulevard, not in residential blocks.

Are there specific neighborhoods in El Segundo that are considered safer for families?

Crime data shows the residential areas near El Segundo Beach record far fewer incidents than the city's commercial zones. High homeownership rates in those beachside blocks correlate with lower property crime reports. The city's small footprint also means public safety services are accessible from any part of it.

Is it safe to walk around downtown El Segundo and Main Street at night?

Downtown El Segundo gets regular patrols from the El Segundo Police Department's 61 sworn officers. Most local crime is vehicle break-ins along commercial routes - not pedestrian incidents. Standard precautions apply: stick to well-lit areas, be aware of your surroundings.

Does living near LAX or the Chevron refinery pose any environmental or safety risks for El Segundo residents?

The proximity to LAX means airplane noise is part of daily life, and the airport perimeter sees a higher share of vehicle break-ins. On natural hazards, Augurisk rates the city's wildfire risk as "Very Low." For property-specific environmental designations, check FEMA's Flood Map Service Center directly.

How secure are the public schools and surrounding community parks in El Segundo?

The local police department - which increased to 83 full-time employees in 2024 - monitors community parks and school campuses. The city's overall violent crime rate is 512.5 per 100,000 residents, which sits slightly above the California average of 486.0.