This survey was conducted by The Nograf Network Inc.
 Any additional information request should be directed to Randy Campbell

California Graffiti cost: A survey was conducted using a benchmark of 43 California cities. The cities were comprised of small to large population bases as well as various locations throughout the State from San Diego to Northern California. Statistics for other States were also surveyed with graffiti cost relatively the same, so they were not included in this estimate. We had a combined population within these cities of 19,540,100 ( 19.5million). The combined California graffiti cost were $91,974,269.00. (92 Million per year) This gave us our benchmark of $4.71 per capita. Using the 2003 census population data for California, (estimated at 35,484,453),

We estimate that Graffiti related cost for California is $167,023,537.52. (167 Million a year)

If you use the same benchmark for US and world populations, you find that graffiti cost for the United States is estimated to be $1,347,114, 015.48 (1.3 Billion per year). Worldwide Graffiti Cost: Based on this same formula, graffiti cost worldwide is approximately $28,241,698, 558.35 (28 Billion per year) These cost do not include cost incurred by private property or business owners, it also does not include any amount due to loss of business or decreased property value in graffiti prone areas. A 1990 survey done by NGIN found that graffiti cost were estimated to be approximately 8 billion a year to the US, if you included the cost of these items, and with inflation, the cost is currently estimated to be approximately 15 billion a year (US alone), and over 50 billion worldwide.

The California Association of Realtors gave us information on the decrease in property value in an area that has graffiti, they estimated that the decrease in sales price was approximately 20%. With the California Real Estate as it is, that is a huge loss, given that the current median home in California is  $522,590, and last year there were 601,800 detached home sales, just as bare bones figure if graffiti went unchecked, You're looking at 315 Billion is sales and if you use the 20%, you have a possible loss of 63 Billion a year!.. This is California alone.... of course the graffiti problem does not affect all homes sales, but in the higher priced areas, San Fran, Sacramento, LA, Orange County, homes cost upwards of $800,000 or more, so it is all relative. Just an interesting figure.....

Can you imagine the number if we looked at all 50 states?