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Berkeley vs Los Angeles Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Berkeley crime rate · Los Angeles crime rate

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Is Berkeley or Los Angeles Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than Berkeley (Safety Score 35/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 5,869 for Berkeley — 62% lower. Berkeley has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in property crime, where Los Angeles has a 72% lower rate.

Note: Los Angeles is 32.3x 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 Berkeley, CA?

Berkeley — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Berkeley, CA

Berkeley, CA
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 117,400
Total Crime Rate 5,868.8
Category Wins 3/7

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 3,796,352
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Berkeley Los Angeles Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,868.8 2,212.5 +3,656.4
Violent Crime Rate 639.7 728.5 -88.8
Murder Rate 6.0 7.0 -1.0
Rape Rate 46.0 40.3 +5.7
Robbery Rate 186.5 209.9 -23.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 400.3 471.4 -71.0
Property Crime Rate 5,229.1 1,483.9 +3,745.2
Burglary Rate 661.0 372.8 +288.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 3,655.9 851.5 +2,804.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 912.3 259.6 +652.6

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

Moving from Berkeley, CA to Los Angeles, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley or Los Angeles safer?

Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 5,869 for Berkeley — a 62% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 639.7 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. Berkeley has lower violent crime.

About Berkeley, CA

Berkeley, California, home to a world-renowned university and the Free Speech Movement, sits on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. This diverse city's population is highly educated, with a significant proportion holding graduate degrees. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 117,400, Berkeley has a total crime rate of 5,868.8 per 100,000 residents.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.

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