Is Bowie or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Bowie (Safety Score 38/100 vs 29/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,473 for Bowie — 16% lower. Bowie has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowie has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 24.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bowie — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowie, MD
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowie | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,473.3 | 2,082.4 | +390.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 193.2 | 412.4 | -219.2 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 35.1 | 21.4 | +13.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 58.0 | 77.4 | -19.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 100.1 | 310.9 | -210.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,280.0 | 1,670.0 | +610.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 138.8 | 187.4 | -48.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,761.8 | 1,087.1 | +674.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 379.4 | 395.5 | -16.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowie or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,473 for Bowie — a 16% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowie has a violent crime rate of 193.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Bowie has lower violent crime.
About Bowie, MD
Bowie, Maryland, a Prince George's County suburb, was originally a railroad stop called Huntington. It's home to Bowie State University, one of the nation's oldest Historically Black colleges. With a safety score of 29/100 and a population coverage of 56,929, Bowie has a total crime rate of 2,473.3 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.