Murrieta, Menifee Among California's Safest Cities: Report

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Murrieta and Menifee are among California's safest cities, according to a new report from Safewise.

In its 2025 "Safest Cities Report" findings, the research company designated both Riverside County cities among the state's top 20 safest, with Murrieta at #16 and Menifee at #18.

The report examined data for 153 California cities, and the top 20 were extrapolated based exclusively on crime rates calculated from FBI data, according to Safewise.

Here are the top 20 Safewise rankings:

Some of the data that came out of the report:

• Rancho Santa Margarita is the safest city in California for the second consecutive year.
• Four cities reported zero murders and zero rapes: Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Yorba Linda, and Laguna Niguel.
• Six cities saw declines in both property crime and violent crime rates: Lincoln, Poway, San Marcos, Elk Grove, Murrieta, and Menifee.
• Irvine has more than 316,000 residents, making its low per-capita crime rates even more impressive.

"This designation is a direct testament to the strong commitment our City Council has made to public safety in our community," Menifee Mayor Ricky Estrada said in a released statement. "The City of Menifee has made strategic investments in both our Police and Fire Departments to ensure they have the resources and technology they need to do their jobs effectively and keep our residents, businesses, and visitors safe.”

Menifee's Police Chief Chris Karrer said, "This achievement is a clear reflection of the positive impact our team has made on the Menifee community. Being one of only six cities in the state to reduce both violent and property crimes is a remarkable accomplishment. It speaks to the dedication and teamwork of everyone here. I want to thank our department members for their commitment to making Menifee a safe and thriving place."

Read the full Safewise report here.