For a majority of the 270 million vacationers California receives yearly, security and friendliness are prime of thoughts when selecting which cities to go to. California’s large measurement, range of neighborhoods, and crime and security statistics can overwhelm even veteran vacationers looking for a tranquil vacation spot. As a result of no traveler deserves to spend their hard-won trip wanting over their shoulder or fielding impolite residents, we have compiled an inventory of the highest 5 most secure and most welcoming cities to discover in your subsequent Golden State journey. We chosen these cities based mostly on information and commentary offered by precise residents, in addition to vacationers who’ve dropped a great phrase about acts of kindness they’ve skilled on the street. Reviews based mostly on surveys of locals and vacationers, in addition to crime and security statistics, have been taken under consideration.
Because it occurs, California boasts a plethora of peaceable, welcoming cities. The corporate LuvLink (by way of Patch) surveyed 3,000 vacationers to find out which American cities had the widest open arms. A formidable 18 California cities confirmed up on LuvLink’s report, 150 Kindest Locations in America, which assessed issues like locals’ hospitality, ease of forging connections, and aiding vacationers in occasions of want. A number of cities on LuvLink’s kindness report additionally appeared on the 2025 Most secure Locations to Dwell in California report launched by Nextdoor, a non-public social community for neighborhoods, which compiled its findings based mostly on FBI-backed crime statistics and firsthand information offered by residents. Primarily based on these resident and traveler-heavy findings, listed here are 5 kindhearted California cities to bookmark on your subsequent journey out West.
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Simi Valley
Air Power One contained in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California – Marc Dozier/Getty Pictures
Tucked away in Ventura County only a 15-minute drive from the underrated metropolis of Thousand Oaks lies Simi Valley, residence to the celebrated Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Simi Valley can also be blessed with some unbelievable Southern California mountaineering because of the encompassing Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains. As you’ll anticipate from a metropolis that boasts a neighborhood named Pleasant Village, residents on this idyllic pocket give their neighborhood excessive marks for friendliness. Vacationers additionally applaud the town’s welcoming embrace, noting that locals are desirous to share recommendations on all the things from their favourite mountaineering spots to tips on how to take part neighborhood occasions.
Simi Valley actually shines in relation to security and is persistently ranked one of many prime 10 most secure cities within the state. This contains experiences from Nextdoor, which names Simi Valley California’s third-safest metropolis, in addition to experiences by safety corporations like Protected and Sound Safety and Safewise. General crime charges listed here are 23.8% under the nationwide common, which earned Simi Valley a sterling security rating of 99 out of 100 from Nextdoor. Essentially the most prevalent questions of safety residents report on this bucolic neighborhood? Petty automotive theft, energy outages, and the odd run-in with wildlife. Based on locals contributing to the net discussion board Reddit, a lot of legislation enforcement officers reside in Simi Valley, in addition to in fellow Southern California metropolis Santa Clarita, which could assist clarify why crime in each areas is persistently low.
Santa Clarita
Curler coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, California – Robert V Schwemmer/Shutterstock
Simply over 30 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles lies Santa Clarita, a sprawling and peaceable desert suburb that is full of gated communities, equestrian facilities, and mountaineering trails. Whether or not you are visiting Santa Clarita for a day of thrill rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, or to find a dose of Hollywood magic hidden inside the town’s quite a few movie studios, relaxation assured that security on this neighborhood is prime notch. Nextdoor bestows Santa Clarita with a 99 out of 100 security rating and names it California’s fifth most secure metropolis. Residents recognize the very seen police presence, which matches a great distance towards maintaining Santa Clarita’s total crime charge 21% under the nationwide common. As is the case with Simi Valley, California locals on Reddit report that a lot of legislation enforcement officers reside within the space, which might actually affect the neighborhood’s excessive diploma of security.
Vacationers give Santa Clarita’s locals accolades for his or her kindness. Guests are notably happy by the town’s family-friendliness and robust sense of neighborhood, of which residents are visibly proud. One Santa Clarita native who moved to the town 5 years in the past felt immediately embraced by the neighborhood. “All over the place I went I noticed households spending time collectively, which made the town really feel heat and welcoming,” they wrote on Area of interest.
Cupertino
Apple Park in Cupertino, California – LoveMetaverse/Shutterstock
Boasting a 91 out of 100 friendliness score, the Silicon Valley enclave of Cupertino was named No. 9 on Nextdoor’s 2025 listing of the Friendliest Locations to Dwell in California. The world-famous headquarters of Apple, Inc., which is situated contained in the ring-shaped Apple Park, seems to woo vacationers and residents with kindness simply as a lot as with its tech-heavy sights and native wines. Residents love the town’s clear, peaceable, and walkable neighborhoods. Lots of them, like Monta Vista and Backyard Gate, are family-friendly and boast among the finest colleges within the state.
Including to Cupertino’s attract is its nice fame for security. Nextdoor experiences that Cupertino’s total crime charges are almost 22% decrease than the California common, and 19.4% decrease than the nationwide common. Property crime is a priority for Cupertino residents, however violent crime is extraordinarily low. As one Cupertino resident on Reddit affirms: “I’ve lived right here for 30 years. When it comes to violent or different types of bodily crime there’s solely ever been 2 or perhaps 3 throughout the neighborhood of my neighborhood.” One other colourful person on Reddit writes: “It’s ridiculously protected right here in Cupertino. Like insanely so. Meals can also be wonderful right here.”
Irvine
Irvine Spectrum Middle in Irvine, California – Kirkikis/Getty Pictures
The attractive, family-friendly metropolis of Irvine in Orange County has loads going for it. It is ethnically numerous, brimming with lush parks, and it is also residence to the extremely aggressive College of California, Irvine. The town additionally will get bonus factors for being only a 20-minute drive from the dazzling surfside metropolis of Newport Seaside. The icing on the cake? Irvine occurs to be one in all California’s most secure communities, with an total crime charge 18.4% decrease than the California nationwide common, in accordance with Nextdoor. Irvine’s superior security stats landed it at No. 3 on Area of interest’s 2025 listing of Protected Locations to Dwell in California and at No. 8 on Nextdoor’s 2025 listing of Most secure Locations to Dwell in California.
Vacationers who chimed in on LuvLink’s kindness report (by way of Patch) have been impressed by Irvine’s gracious residents. Locals by no means hesitate to lend a serving to hand, be it recommending yummy eating places or suggesting nice locations to discover. Vacationers additionally agree with residents that Irvine is one of many cleanest cities they’ve ever seen. General, Irvine stands out as fairly the folks pleaser. “Irvine, California has been a protected, clear place to reside with a top quality of life. I notably take pleasure in its dedication to security and the situation in central Orange County is close to the seashore which I really like,” one resident wrote on Area of interest.
Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates
Pointe Vicente Lighthouse, Rancho Palos Verdes, California – jkbeachtour/Shutterstock
Rounding out our listing of the highest 5 most secure and most welcoming California cities are the attractive, seaside sister communities of Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. These Southern California neighborhoods take pleasure in a privileged perch on the sun-soaked Palos Verdes Peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, making them the one seashore communities on this listing. Each neighborhoods wow from atop coastal bluffs, providing tony golf programs, mountaineering trails, and coastal views harking back to Sicily.
The cities respectively occupy the No. 11 and No. 16 spots on Area of interest’s listing of Greatest Suburbs to Dwell within the Los Angeles Space because of their family-friendliness and wonderful colleges, in addition to their security. Nextdoor ranks Rancho Palos Verdes the No. 16 most secure place to reside in California, and each communities boast crime charges 25% decrease than the California common. Residents proclaim the realm is welcoming and pleasant. “In my expertise, of us are beneficiant and type. I’ve met many good folks,” shared one resident on Area of interest.
Methodology
Iron Horse Trailhead in Santa Clarita, California – Ken Wolter/Shutterstock
To compile this listing, we checked out information gathered from contributions made by native residents and reported on by the neighborhood web site Nextdoor and the college sourcing web site Area of interest. Moreover, we thought-about information revealed within the LuvLink 2024 report of High 150 Kindest Locations in America, in addition to findings from this report summarized on Patch. Particularly, we cross-referenced cities from Nextdoor’s listing of 2025 Most secure Locations to Dwell in California with their listing of 2025 Friendliest Locations to Dwell in California. Then we decided cities frequent to each lists that additionally ranked on LuvLink’s report, in addition to Area of interest’s compilation of the Greatest Cities to Dwell in California.
Security reporting and knowledge on Nextdoor depends on data offered by the U.S. Census, in addition to the newest data that is accessible on the FBI Uniform Crime Report. We additionally sourced feedback and contributions from locals on Reddit and Area of interest.
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