Is Billings or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Billings (Safety Score 38/100 vs 10/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,832 for Billings — 46% lower. Billings has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 66% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 11.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Billings — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Billings, MT
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Billings | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,832.0 | 2,082.4 | +1,749.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 748.5 | 412.4 | +336.2 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 2.5 | +4.9 |
| Rape Rate | 78.6 | 21.4 | +57.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 86.0 | 77.4 | +8.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 574.1 | 310.9 | +263.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,083.4 | 1,670.0 | +1,413.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 364.4 | 187.4 | +177.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,299.7 | 1,087.1 | +1,212.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 419.3 | 395.5 | +23.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billings or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,832 for Billings — a 46% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Billings has a violent crime rate of 748.5 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Billings, MT
Billings, Montana's largest city, sits on the Yellowstone River, a hub for the region's agricultural and energy industries. Founded as a railroad town, its history is deeply tied to westward expansion. The city is a growing metropolitan area with a diverse economy. With a safety score of 10/100 and a population coverage of 122,105, Billings has a total crime rate of 3,832.0 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.