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Brea vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Brea crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Brea or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Brea (Safety Score 38/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,076 for Brea — 32% lower. Brea has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Brea has a 49% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 28.4x 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 Brea, CA?

Brea — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Brea, CA

Brea, CA
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 48,901
Total Crime Rate 3,075.6
Category Wins 3/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Brea San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,075.6 2,082.4 +993.2
Violent Crime Rate 210.6 412.4 -201.8
Murder Rate 2.0 2.5 -0.5
Rape Rate 12.3 21.4 -9.1
Robbery Rate 92.0 77.4 +14.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 104.3 310.9 -206.7
Property Crime Rate 2,865.0 1,670.0 +1,195.0
Burglary Rate 269.9 187.4 +82.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,439.6 1,087.1 +1,352.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 155.4 395.5 -240.1

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

Moving from Brea, CA to San Diego, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brea or San Diego safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,076 for Brea — a 32% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Brea has a violent crime rate of 210.6 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Brea has lower violent crime.

About Brea, CA

Brea, California, once known for its oil fields, is a suburban city in northern Orange County. It features a vibrant downtown area and is home to a diverse population of around 47,000 residents. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 48,901, Brea has a total crime rate of 3,075.6 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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