Share

Arcata vs San Francisco Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Arcata crime rate · San Francisco crime rate

Moving from Arcata, CA to San Francisco, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Arcata or San Francisco Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Arcata is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 34/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,271 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 50% lower. Arcata has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Arcata has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Francisco is 42.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Arcata, CA?

Arcata — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Francisco — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Arcata, CA

Arcata, CA
Safety Score 34/100
Coverage 19,107
Total Crime Rate 2,271.4
Category Wins 7/7

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 802,856
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Arcata San Francisco Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,271.4 4,525.6 -2,254.2
Violent Crime Rate 507.7 596.5 -88.8
Murder Rate 0.0 4.4 -4.4
Rape Rate 73.3 34.9 +38.4
Robbery Rate 120.4 267.2 -146.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 314.0 290.1 +23.9
Property Crime Rate 1,763.8 3,929.1 -2,165.4
Burglary Rate 193.7 637.5 -443.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,423.6 2,618.9 -1,195.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 146.5 672.7 -526.2

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Arcata, CA to San Francisco, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arcata or San Francisco safer?

Arcata is safer with a total crime rate of 2,271 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 50% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Arcata has a violent crime rate of 507.7 per 100K while San Francisco has 596.5. Arcata has lower violent crime.

About Arcata, CA

Arcata, California, a Humboldt Bay city and home to Cal Poly Humboldt, is known for its redwood forests and counter-culture heritage. Its population of around 19,000 residents enjoys a temperate climate and a strong sense of community. With a safety score of 34/100 and a population coverage of 19,107, Arcata has a total crime rate of 2,271.4 per 100,000 residents.

About San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, a vibrant Northern California port city renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spans a hilly peninsula. Home to a diverse population of nearly 850,000, it was a pivotal center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 802,856, San Francisco has a total crime rate of 4,525.6 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons