Is Chinatown Safe?
NEIGHBORHOOD • SAN FRANCISCO, CALoading Map...
Summary
Chinatown has a use caution overall safety rating, with notably higher crime than most of the 116 areas analyzed. The area has a median home value of $1.66M (+27.2% vs area average), median household income of $36K (-76.4% vs area average), population density of 62,084 people per square mile and occupancy rate of 85.6% (-4.9% vs area average).
Crime & Safety Analysis
Safety Overview for Chinatown
Based on comprehensive analysis of 5 distinct safety categories over the past year of data, Chinatown in San Francisco, CA receives a use caution overall safety rating. This means crime rates here are notably higher than most comparable areas. This neighborhood was compared against 116 similar locations in the region. Each safety category below provides detailed crime statistics, temporal patterns, and comparative rankings to help you understand the specific safety profile of this neighborhood in San Francisco, CA.
Walking Safety
This area has significantly elevated walking safety related crime rates compared to other neighborhoods in the region. This area ranks #112 out of 116 neighborhoods analyzed.
Consider traveling in groups and staying aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
152
Total Incidents
12.7
Monthly Average
#112 / 116
Safety Rank
High Risk
Safety Level
Data Sources
Time of Day Pattern
Crime incidents in Chinatown show distinct patterns throughout the day. The peak activity occurs during the afternoon hours, with the highest concentration at 12:00 (14 incidents). Conversely, the safest time of day is during the afternoon, particularly around 14:00 when incident rates drop to 1. Understanding these hourly crime patterns in San Francisco, CA can help residents and visitors make informed decisions about when to travel through the area.
Monthly Trend
Monthly crime data for Chinatown reveals seasonal patterns and trends. The month with the highest incident count was 2026-08 with 18 incidents, while 2025-12 saw the lowest activity at 6 incidents. On average, this neighborhood in San Francisco experiences approximately 13 incidents per month. The data shows a increasing trend, with incident rates rising by approximately 30% over the analyzed period. These temporal patterns can help residents understand when crime rates in CA neighborhoods like Chinatown tend to fluctuate.
Top Crime Categories
The most common type of crime in Chinatown is Assault | Simple Assault | Battery, accounting for 34.2% of all incidents (52 cases). This is followed by Theft | Larceny Theft - Pickpocket | Theft, Pickpocket, $200-$950 at 13.2% (20 cases). The top three categories combined represent 59% of all crime in this area. Understanding the specific types of crimes that occur most frequently in San Francisco, CA helps residents assess relevant safety concerns for their neighborhood.
Demographics & Housing
Population Density
62,084.06
people per sq mi (average)
Ranks #4 of 116 neighborhoods
+166.5% vs area average
Occupancy Rate
85.6%
estimated units occupied
Ranks #94 of 116 neighborhoods
-4.9% vs area average
Median Home Value
$1,661,019.05
average estimate
Ranks #18 of 114 neighborhoods
+27.2% vs area average
Median Household Income
$36,447.68
average estimate
Ranks #115 of 116 neighborhoods
-76.4% vs area average
Age Distribution
Percentages are population-weighted averages across census tracts within this neighborhood. Hover or tap segments for detailed rankings.