San Francisco - celebrated for its iconic landmarks and as a vital economic center, is not just a tourist favorite. Despite its picturesque views and vibrant city life, it's important to note that San Francisco faces great challenges with homelessness, drug addicts and crime, impacting its image as a safe place. For those planning to visit the city, being aware of areas with higher crime rates is crucial.

10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in San Francisco

1. Tenderloin District

2. The Castro

3. Hunters Point

4. Mission District

5. Chinatown

6. Ocean View

7. North Beach

8. Outer Mission

9. Western Addition

10. South of Market SOMA

1. Tenderloin District 

The Tenderloin District is the most dangerous neighborhood in San Francisco. Located in Downtown San Francisco, the area has a population of 39,000 and an extremely high violent crime rate, which is over 270% higher than the national average. The Tenderloin has more violent crimes, such as robberies and assaults. In addition, some of the highest amounts of drug use and homelessness are concentrated in this neighborhood. Despite being one of San Francisco’s historic neighborhoods, you should be careful when walking through the area.

2. The Castro

The Castro is also one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco. Located in San Francisco’s Eureka Valley neighborhood, the Castro is a historic community and one of the first LGBTQ neighborhoods in America. However, like many areas of San Francisco today, it suffers from a high rate of crime.

The total crime rate in the Castro is 8,200 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 253% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 124% higher than the rest of the country, while the property crime rate is 277% higher. Shootings, stabbings, robberies, and assaults are fairly common in the Castro, and your chances of being the victim of a crime are 1 in 13.

3. Hunters Point

Another one of the areas to avoid in San Francisco is Hunters Point. Located near the Port of San Francisco, Hunters Point has a population of 3,534 and an exceptionally high crime rate. Hunters Point has been plagued by poverty for decades, with communities being affected by incidents involving toxic leaks and hazardous waste spills. In 2023, there were over 4,000 assaults and over 1,000 incidents of burglary.

4. Mission District

Mission District has a population of 45,039 and a crime rate that is 251% higher than the national average. Violent crimes were frequent, but most of the crime can be attributed to property crime, with over 6,000 incidents in 2023.

5. Chinatown

Chinatown is another one of the more dangerous parts of San Francisco. Located in between the financial district and the Tenderloin, Chinatown is a densely populated area that is home to about 35,000 residents. Although it’s a popular tourist destination, it suffers from social problems such as homelessness and drug addiction and has one of the highest crime rates in the city.

The total crime rate in Chinatown is 6,923 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 198% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 83% higher than in the rest of the country, while the property crime rate is 220% higher than in the rest of the US. Pickpockets are especially common along Stockton Street, and your chances of being the victim of a crime in Chinatown are 1 in 15.

6. Ocean View

Oceanview is another one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco. Situated in the southern portion of the city, Ocean View is home to about 7,000 residents. In the 1980s, the neighborhood suffered from widespread urban decay and became a major hub of violent crime and drug trafficking. Although civic improvements have led to a decrease in violence, Oceanview is still one of the most crime-ridden areas of San Francisco. The total crime rate is 195% higher than the national average, while the violent crime rate is 255% higher. Your chances of being the victim of a crime are 1 in 15.

7. North Beach

North Beach is also a dangerous San Francisco neighborhood. The community is adjacent to Chinatown, Russian Hill, and Downtown San Francisco and is home to a large Italian American population. North Beach is a popular tourist destination and is generally considered safe during the day, although it does suffer from a high rate of crime, and visitors are advised to take precautions. The total crime rate is 160% higher than the national average, and your chances of being the victim of a crime are 1 in 17. The property crime rate is also 179% higher than the rest of the country, while violent crime is 64% higher.

8. Outer Mission

Outer Mission is another dangerous San Francisco neighborhood. The area has a population of 8,546 and a crime rate that is 98% higher than the national average. The property crime rate is much higher than the violent crime rate in Outer Mission. Property crimes like car theft are rampant in this neighborhood, and it is not advised to leave any visible property in your car. Since Out Mission is greatly affected by homelessness, drug activity, and other petty crimes are very common.

9. Western Addition

With a population of 12,934, Western Addition is known for having rampant property crime and muggings. While some parts of Western Addition have undergone gentrification, homelessness affects the area and contributes to the overall crime rate. Car break-ins, petty theft, and drug activity. Residents report feeling generally safe, even at night, as long as common sense is used.

10. South of Market (SOMA) 

Another dangerous San Francisco neighborhood is South of Market. Often abbreviated to SOMA, South of Market has a population of 11,457 and an overall crime rate 67% higher than the national average. Despite being a significant economic center hosting multiple tech companies, property crime is very high in SOMA. Vehicle thefts, muggings, and property theft are extremely common.

Just because certain areas aren’t mentioned in this list doesn’t mean they’re safe to roam around. Pickpocketing and foremost vehicle break-in are still to worry about in other well frequented tourist areas.

Hot spots for vehicle break-ins:

Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, the Embarcadero (especially near Alcatraz Landing), Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street, Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, Lands End parking lots, and the Cliff House are the prime spots for break-ins. Remember, a lockable motorcycle saddle bag or top case is much easier to break into than a car!

Good to know: some thieves have scanners that can pick up Bluetooth signals from electronic devices in the motorcycle, so hiding a phone, tablet, or laptop in any of the storage compartments won't protect it. You can block the Bluetooth signal by powering down the device or putting it in airplane mode, but it's better not to leave it there at all.

Can I Still Go?

We get it, this may be the first and last time that you’re visiting San Francisco and despite these last paragraphs you may still have the desire to check out several of the tourist spots. Just use common sense, and best limit your visit to daytime hours. Don’t wave around cash or walk around glued to your cell phone. After dark the city becomes a different animal.

Our hotel recommendations for the area are therefore north of the Golden Gate Bridge and south of downtown in less crime-frequented areas.