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Birmingham, AL vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Birmingham, AL to San Diego, CA?

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Is Birmingham, AL or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 38/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — 61% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 96% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 7.1x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 195,418
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9
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 Birmingham San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 2,082.4 +3,196.5
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 412.4 +835.2
Murder Rate 58.9 2.5 +56.3
Rape Rate 14.8 21.4 -6.5
Robbery Rate 201.1 77.4 +123.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 310.9 +660.8
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 1,670.0 +2,361.3
Burglary Rate 729.7 187.4 +542.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 1,087.1 +1,406.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 395.5 +412.5

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

Moving from Birmingham, AL to San Diego, CA?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham or San Diego safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — a 61% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, Alabama, a city forged in the steel industry, sits at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. It's the most populous city in Alabama's Jefferson County. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 195,418, Birmingham has a total crime rate of 5,278.9 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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