Is Bowling Green or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Bowling Green (Safety Score 38/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,153 for Bowling Green — 34% lower. Bowling Green has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowling Green has a 49% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 17.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bowling Green — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 2,082.4 | +1,071.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 412.4 | -187.9 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 2.5 | -1.2 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 21.4 | +67.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 77.4 | -30.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 310.9 | -223.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 1,670.0 | +1,258.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 187.4 | +153.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 1,087.1 | +1,235.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 395.5 | -129.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,153 for Bowling Green — a 34% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Bowling Green has lower violent crime.
About Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green, Kentucky, home to Western Kentucky University, sits on the Barren River. This city of over 70,000 residents is also home to the National Corvette Museum. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 77,503, Bowling Green has a total crime rate of 3,153.4 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.