Is Box Elder or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Box Elder is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 55/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 26% lower. Box Elder has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Box Elder has a 91% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 95.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Box Elder — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Box Elder, SD
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Box Elder | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,542.3 | 2,082.4 | -540.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.6 | 412.4 | -62.8 |
| Murder Rate | 6.9 | 2.5 | +4.3 |
| Rape Rate | 68.5 | 21.4 | +47.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 6.9 | 77.4 | -70.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 267.3 | 310.9 | -43.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,192.7 | 1,670.0 | -477.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 171.4 | 187.4 | -16.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 863.7 | 1,087.1 | -223.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 157.7 | 395.5 | -237.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Box Elder or San Diego safer?
Box Elder is safer with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 26% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Box Elder has a violent crime rate of 349.6 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Box Elder has lower violent crime.
About Box Elder, SD
Box Elder, South Dakota, a community near Ellsworth Air Force Base, is home to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. This growing town, part of the Rapid City metropolitan area, is situated in Pennington County. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 14,589, Box Elder has a total crime rate of 1,542.3 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.