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Charleston, SC vs Los Angeles, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charleston crime rate · Los Angeles crime rate

Moving from Charleston, SC to Los Angeles, CA?

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Is Charleston, SC or Los Angeles, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles, CA is safer than Charleston, SC (Safety Score 35/100 vs 31/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 2,379 for Charleston, SC — 7% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Charleston has a 80% lower rate.

Note: Los Angeles is 24.2x 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 SAFER than Charleston, SC?

Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC
Safety Score 31/100
Coverage 156,898
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3
Category Wins 5/7

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 3,796,352
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charleston Los Angeles Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 2,212.5 +166.8
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 728.5 -371.0
Murder Rate 4.5 7.0 -2.5
Rape Rate 28.0 40.3 -12.3
Robbery Rate 42.7 209.9 -167.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 471.4 -189.0
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 1,483.9 +537.8
Burglary Rate 139.6 372.8 -233.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 851.5 +805.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 259.6 -34.0

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

Moving from Charleston, SC to Los Angeles, 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 Charleston or Los Angeles safer?

Los Angeles, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 2,379 for Charleston, SC — a 7% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. Charleston has lower violent crime.

About Charleston, SC

Charleston, a historic port city founded in 1670, boasts cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture. Situated on a peninsula, its population is predominantly white, with a significant Black community contributing to its rich Lowcountry culture. With a safety score of 31/100 and a population coverage of 156,898, Charleston has a total crime rate of 2,379.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.

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