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Cary, NC vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cary crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Cary, NC to San Diego, CA?

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Is Cary, NC or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cary, NC is safer than San Diego, CA (Safety Score 60/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego, CA — 33% lower. Cary has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cary has a 84% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 7.6x 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 Cary, NC?

Cary — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cary, NC

Cary, NC
Safety Score 60/100
Coverage 181,793
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9
Category Wins 6/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cary San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9 2,082.4 -693.5
Violent Crime Rate 71.5 412.4 -340.9
Murder Rate 1.7 2.5 -0.9
Rape Rate 6.6 21.4 -14.8
Robbery Rate 12.7 77.4 -64.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.1 310.9 -260.9
Property Crime Rate 1,317.4 1,670.0 -352.6
Burglary Rate 88.6 187.4 -98.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,110.6 1,087.1 +23.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 118.3 395.5 -277.3

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

Moving from Cary, NC 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cary or San Diego safer?

Cary, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego, CA — a 33% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cary has a violent crime rate of 71.5 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Cary has lower violent crime.

About Cary, NC

Cary, NC, a large town in the Research Triangle region, began as a railroad town. It consistently ranks among the most educated communities in the U.S., attracting a diverse, affluent population. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 181,793, Cary has a total crime rate of 1,388.9 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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