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Berkeley vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Berkeley crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Berkeley or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Berkeley (Safety Score 38/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 5,869 for Berkeley — 65% lower. Berkeley has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in property crime, where San Diego has a 68% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 11.8x 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

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Berkeley, CA

Berkeley, CA
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 117,400
Total Crime Rate 5,868.8
Category Wins 0/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Berkeley San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,868.8 2,082.4 +3,786.4
Violent Crime Rate 639.7 412.4 +227.3
Murder Rate 6.0 2.5 +3.4
Rape Rate 46.0 21.4 +24.6
Robbery Rate 186.5 77.4 +109.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 400.3 310.9 +89.4
Property Crime Rate 5,229.1 1,670.0 +3,559.1
Burglary Rate 661.0 187.4 +473.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 3,655.9 1,087.1 +2,568.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 912.3 395.5 +516.7

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

Moving from Berkeley, CA to San Diego, 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 San Diego safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 5,869 for Berkeley — a 65% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 639.7 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego 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 San Diego, CA

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. With a safety score of 38/100 and a population coverage of 1,389,024, San Diego has a total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 residents.

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