Beverly Hills is one of those places that needs no introduction. Iconic homes, world-class shopping along Rodeo Drive, and a reputation for luxury that’s known around the globe. It’s also a city we’ve seen many times on screen. Movies like Pretty Woman and Clueless helped create the image of Beverly Hills as glamorous and prestigious. But movies are movies. In a routine daily life, people also think about more practical aspects of the city, such as safety.
Whether you’re thinking about making Beverly Hills your home, investing in property, or simply exploring the city for the first time, it’s natural to wonder, “Is Beverly Hills a safe place to live or visit?” In this article, we take a realistic look at safety here, backed by crime data, to help you understand what living and spending time here is actually like.
Is Beverly Hills Safe to Live In?
Yes. It is generally a comfortable place to live. This is a well-maintained city with a dedicated police department, and residents usually feel safe day to day. For example, data based on incidents shows the chance of being a victim of violent crime is roughly 1 in 198 residents here.
Yet, “safe” doesn’t mean “crime-free.” When considering moving to Beverly Hills, it helps to keep in mind that the experience of safety can vary based on time of day and the neighborhood. There’s a contrast between living on a residential street in the Flats and spending time on Rodeo Drive when it’s crowded.
What the Data Says and How to Read It
The latest official statistics indicate that most reported incidents were property-related rather than violent. The Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) 2024 End-of-Year Report shows that property crime made up most reported incidents in 2024. There were 1,353 property crimes and 1,464 reported incidents overall across the city.
Also, we can observe a positive trend in the reported crime level compared to 2023. According to the report, there were 1,684 incidents in 2023, and in 2024, crime fell by 13%.
However, the BHPD isn’t the only source to check the Beverly Hills safety. So, what are the main aspects to pay attention to when using multiple sources to find a clear answer to the question of how safe Beverly Hills is?
First, it’s necessary to take into account that two main types of crime, violent crime and property-related crime, exist. And as the BHPD data shows, most reported incidents fall into the property category. These usually involve theft, burglaries, or car break-ins, not crimes where people are physically harmed. But some sources may not separate the property crime rate from the violent crime rate when calculating averages, which can make people more concerned about the overall safety picture.
Also, some sources, like Nextdoor, compare Beverly Hills’ crime figures to California and the country’s averages. This comparison can be misleading. While only about 30,000–35,000 people live in the city, far more people are present here daily.
Therefore, incidents involving visitors (which also usually occur in busy commercial areas) can still be divided by this small population base. As a result, the numbers can make the city appear less safe than it feels in everyday life.
Is Beverly Hills a Safe Place According to Locals and Visitors?
Locals and visitors often experience cities very differently, and Beverly Hills is no exception. Life in the city tends to feel calm for those living in Beverly Hills, especially in safe neighborhoods, such as Trousdale Estates and Flats. Safety isn’t something they constantly think about during the day when walking dogs, running errands, or dining out.
But visitors tend to spend most of their time in busy areas, like shopping streets, and at restaurants and hotels, and they often wonder, “Is Beverly Hills safe at night?” While these areas are well-policed and well-lit, they still attract crowds, which increases the chances of small, opportunistic crimes.
When safety concerns do come up in conversations or online reviews, commonly mentioned issues include vehicle break-ins, especially when valuables are left visible, and opportunistic theft in busy shopping or dining areas.
How Safe Is Beverly Hills Compared with Nearby LA Areas?
Because Beverly Hills is a standalone city with its own police department and reporting system, people may compare it to the City of Los Angeles.
However, Los Angeles is a massive city made up of many neighborhoods. So, when comparing Beverly Hills to Los Angeles, multiple areas with totally different population density, tourism volume, and policing resources are considered, which isn’t quite an “apples-to-apples” comparison.
For a more precise comparison, it makes more sense to compare Beverly Hills to nearby areas with similar population size, foot traffic, and the overall city’s dynamic, such as West Hollywood. Just like Beverly Hills, it’s an independent city, not an LA neighborhood. Here’s what NeighborhoodScout’s most recent available data reveals about the safety of both cities:
- Beverly Hills estimated annual crimes: Violent - 157; Property - 1,354; Total - 1,511
- West Hollywood estimated annual crimes: Violent - 301; Property - 1,865; Total - 2,166
Overall, the data suggest that Beverly Hills sees fewer rates than WeHo, both in total incidents and across violent and property crime categories. Although the cities are comparable in many ways, there are still differences in population density and the concentration of nightlife, which helps explain the figures above.
Sources to Check Beverly Hills Security
So far, we’ve already mentioned a few sources you can turn to when assessing safety in Beverly Hills. Here’s what each one offers:
- The most direct and reliable source is the Beverly Hills Police Department. In addition to its annual end-of-year reports, the department publishes detailed monthly statistical insights. It’s usually more helpful to look at several recent monthly reports rather than judge by one-off stories.
- Next is Nextdoor, which aggregates publicly available data and compares the Beverly Hills crime rate safety to state and national averages, as well as shows numbers for cities located nearby. It also includes community insights on the city’s safety and lets you subscribe to updates.
- NeighborhoodScout lets you assess safety by neighborhood. It visually breaks the city into areas and labels each neighborhood from safest to most dangerous. The platform also provides an overall crime index for the city.
Official Beverly Hills Crime Map
Beverly Hills Crime Map is a particularly useful tool, as it’s interactive. It allows you to navigate the city map and check reported crimes in different areas. You can also filter incidents by type and timeframe, or search by a specific address to see “crimes near me.”
Worth mentioning, however, is that the crime map reflects reported incidents and doesn’t necessarily capture every call for service. Also, if you’re looking beyond crime statistics, our guide to Beverly Hills offers a wider overview of life in the city.
FAQs
Is Beverly Hills a safe city for families?
Yes, Beverly Hills is generally considered a safe place for families. Many residential areas are quiet and feel calm day to day. In addition, most reported incidents tend to be property-related rather than violent. Yet, just like in any city, some streets and areas are a better fit for a family lifestyle than others.
Is Beverly Hills safe at night for walking and dining?
In most cases, yes. Commercial streets are well-lit and policed, and people regularly walk between restaurants and shops at night. However, as with any city, it’s best to avoid poorly lit, empty areas.
What crimes are most common in Beverly Hills?
The most common incidents in Beverly Hills are property-related, such as theft, vehicle break-ins, and occasional burglary. Violent crime makes up a much smaller share of reported incidents.
Is Beverly Hills safer than the nearby Los Angeles areas?
It depends on what you’re comparing it to. But overall, Beverly Hills, as a separate city with its own police department and services, often reports fewer violent crimes than in the Los Angeles area. However, safety levels can still vary depending on the neighborhood, and it’s most helpful to compare Beverly Hills with nearby areas that have similar characteristics in terms of population size, tourism volume, and the overall city’s dynamic.
Where can I check recent Beverly Hills crime data and reports?
The best place to start is the Beverly Hills Police Department’s website, where you can find detailed annual and monthly reports. You may also use the city’s interactive crime map. When it comes to third-party platforms, check out Nextdoor or NeighborhoodScout.