Ever wonder what places to avoid in San Francisco, or what the worst areas in San Francisco are? Perhaps you’re curious about what the worst neighborhoods are in San Francisco, statistically speaking. Here, we point out what spots are the most crime-ridden statistically. These findings are in accordance with FBI crime data based on the number of crimes per 10,000 capita. Please be advised and tread carefully in the dangerous places in San Francisco:

1. The Tenderloin
Tenderloin, San Francisco, CA, USA
carlo cravero/Flickr
West of Union Square, the Tenderloin neighborhood is bounded by Taylor Street to the east, Geary to the north, Market to the south, and Van Ness to the west. The Tenderloin sees more serious crimes, such as assaults, drug violations, and robberies, as well as intense homelessness in concentrated areas. This place can be dangerous at all times.

Take a look at the slow change in the Tenderloin neighborhood:

2. Hunters Point
Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA 94124, USA
akasped/Flickr
The notoriously crime-ridden, impoverished Hunters Point neighborhood is one of the most historic, but dangerous, places in San Francisco. Crime statistics continue to reflect the danger here.
3. Bayview
Bayview, San Francisco, CA 94124, USA
nicknormal/Flickr
Bayview has some of the highest crime rates in the city. This area can be particularly dangerous because of gun violence, thus the crime rate is 161% higher than the national average.
4. Mission District
Mission District, San Francisco, CA, USA
eviloars/Flickr
Though one of the most popular places to visit in San Francisco, Mission District can be very unpredictable after 9 or 10 p.m., and the source of the crime is varied. In fact, there's a whole blog dedicated to keeping up with all the theft, violence, and vandalism that goes on in the Mission. Be sure to check out Mission Local: Trouble.

Get an in-depth look at the Mission District:

5. Outer Mission
Outer Mission, San Francisco, CA 94112, USA
A Name Like Shields Can Make You Defensive/Flickr
Outer Mission is a small residential neighborhood on the south edge of San Francisco. The overall crime rate in Outer Mission is 98% higher than the national average, so be careful when it gets dark.
6. Western Addition
Western Addition, San Francisco, CA, USA
Dan B/Yelp
Western Addition is roughly the area between Van Ness, Fulton, Divisadero, and Geary. Parts of Western Addition are rife with petty crime, especially muggings and car break-ins.

Learn about the history of the Western Addition:

7. SOMA (South of Market)
SoMa, San Francisco, CA, USA
Scott Beale/Flickr
Historic South of Market (SOMA) is a huge district, sprawling from the Embarcadero to 11th Street, between Market and Townsend. The northern part of SOMA (near Market Street), between 4th and 10th Streets, is a high-crime area. The overall crime rate in South Of Market is 67% higher than the national average.
8. Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, USA
Michael Fraley/Flickr
Though beautiful during the day, Golden Gate Park practically empties out by sunset, making it a hotbed for illicit activities. In particular, it has a reputation for some unpredictable homeless campers.

Did we miss a dangerous place in Fog City? What do you consider to be the worst or most dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments.

Of course, no place is perfect, and locals happen to love living in this beautiful little corner of the Golden State. So let’s move on to some happier news, shall we? Take a look at some of the best places to live in San Francisco.

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More to Explore

Places to avoid in San Francisco

Sarah M. | June 01, 2022

What are some other places to avoid in San Francisco?

Other places to avoid in San Francisco include:

  • Oakland
  • Emeryville
  • Stockton
  • Blue Lake
  • Richmond
  • Sonora

The beauty of Northern California can be intoxicating, from the sandy beaches of Half Moon Bay to the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. But, how many of you realize there’s a dark side to be found in a few cities here? It's sad but true. So if you’re a native of the northern part of California and the San Francisco Bay area, you know exactly where to go and when and where not to go no matter what. We're talking about notoriously dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco such as Oakland, Emeryville, Stockton, Blue Lake, Richmond, and Sonora. With regards to Sonora, a town of less than 5,000 people, stats from the FBI reveal that the county seat of Tuolumne is a place you don't want to be at sundown. Sacramento is another dangerous neighborhood to avoid in NorCal; while it's our capitol city *and* where UC Davis Medical Center -- one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation -- resides, violent crime statistics it's only safer than 11% of all other cities in the country.

What are some dangers of living in San Francisco?

Some of the dangers of living in San Francisco include:

  • Earthquakes
  • Droughts
  • Fires
  • Interstate 80

In addition to the property and violent crime stats that pose a threat to folks living in and around San Francisco, Northern California is a hotbed for earthquakes, droughts, fires, and other natural disasters, all of which seem to have ramped up in recent years. And while Los Angeles is known for its terrible traffic and dangerous roads, there's one particular road in NorCal that's quite treacherous, especially in the wintertime. Interstate 80 is a major east-west route that starts in San Francisco and makes its way across the state to Donner Summit before crossing into Nevada, and during the winter, it's one of the state's most dangerous roads to drive.

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