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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, San Diego, CA has a Safety Score of 38/100 — higher crime than 62% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,826 of 2,957 US cities and #128 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than San Diego, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is San Diego, California Safe?
San Diego, California, a major port city with a significant Hispanic population, sits on the Pacific Ocean just north of the Mexican border. Known for its mild climate and Balboa Park, it's also home to a large naval presence.
San Diego has a safety score of 38/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
San Diego ranks #128 out of 264 cities in California and #1826 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 38th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 62% of US cities.
Year over year, San Diego's total crime rate decreased by 6.6%, with violent crime declining 1.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
San Diego Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 5,728 | 412.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 35 | 2.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 297 | 21.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,075 | 77.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 4,319 | 310.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 23,197 | 1,670.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 2,603 | 187.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 15,100 | 1,087.1 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5,494 | 395.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
San Diego vs California Average
How does San Diego's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | San Diego | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 518.0 | -20.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 2,161.3 | -22.7% |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 4.4 | -42.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 2,679.3 | -22.3% |
San Diego Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for San Diego, California.
Between 2019 and 2024, San Diego's total crime rate is down 7% (2,244 → 2,082 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 14% and property crime down 11% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2021 at 2,337 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,389,024 | 2,082.4 | 412.4 | 1,670.0 |
| 2023 | 1,378,349 | 2,229.8 | 418.1 | 1,811.7 |
| 2022 | 1,377,838 | 2,259.5 | 432.9 | 1,826.6 |
| 2021 | 1,434,673 | 2,337.3 | 403.2 | 1,934.1 |
| 2020 | 1,437,608 | 2,060.7 | 368.9 | 1,691.8 |
| 2019 | 1,441,737 | 2,244.2 | 361.7 | 1,882.5 |
San Diego Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for San Diego and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: California crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego, California safe?
San Diego has a safety score of 38/100, meaning it has less crime than about 38% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, San Diego is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in San Diego, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,670.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does San Diego compare to the national average?
San Diego's total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 1,389,024 residents.
What types of crime are most common in San Diego?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in San Diego are larceny-theft (15,100 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (5,494 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.0x in the city.
How many murders were reported in San Diego in 2024?
35 murders were reported to the FBI for San Diego in 2024 — a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in San Diego going up or down?
San Diego's total crime rate is falling: 7% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (2,082 vs 2,244 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is San Diego safe to visit?
Like any city, San Diego has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 38/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.