Moving from Cambridge, MA to San Diego, CA?
An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Cambridge, MA or San Diego, CA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 38/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 32% lower. Cambridge has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Cambridge has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 11.5x 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 Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cambridge, MA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cambridge | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,081.0 | 2,082.4 | +998.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 436.7 | 412.4 | +24.3 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 21.4 | +12.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 91.3 | 77.4 | +13.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 311.3 | 310.9 | +0.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,644.3 | 1,670.0 | +974.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 236.6 | 187.4 | +49.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,323.0 | 1,087.1 | +1,235.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 84.7 | 395.5 | -310.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Cambridge, MA 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or San Diego safer?
San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 32% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Cambridge, MA
Nestled across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is a vibrant intellectual hub home to Harvard University. Its youthful, highly educated population, with a median age around 30, contributes to its dynamic character. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 120,447, Cambridge has a total crime rate of 3,081.0 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.