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Charlotte vs Santa Ana Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charlotte crime rate · Santa Ana crime rate

Moving from Charlotte, NC to Santa Ana, CA?

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Is Charlotte or Santa Ana Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Santa Ana is safer than Charlotte (Safety Score 35/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,196 per 100,000 versus 4,439 for Charlotte — 51% lower. Charlotte has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Ana has a 56% lower rate.

Note: Charlotte is 3.2x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Charlotte, NC?

Charlotte — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Santa Ana — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 1,003,130
Total Crime Rate 4,439.0
Category Wins 0/7

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 310,304
Total Crime Rate 2,195.6
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charlotte Santa Ana Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,439.0 2,195.6 +2,243.4
Violent Crime Rate 733.7 493.4 +240.3
Murder Rate 10.9 4.8 +6.0
Rape Rate 24.9 52.5 -27.6
Robbery Rate 130.4 106.0 +24.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 567.0 329.7 +237.4
Property Crime Rate 3,705.3 1,702.2 +2,003.1
Burglary Rate 427.1 225.6 +201.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,518.2 1,160.5 +1,357.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 760.0 316.1 +443.9

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

Moving from Charlotte, NC to Santa Ana, 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 Charlotte or Santa Ana safer?

Santa Ana is safer with a total crime rate of 2,196 per 100K vs 4,439 for Charlotte — a 51% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charlotte has a violent crime rate of 733.7 per 100K while Santa Ana has 493.4. Santa Ana has lower violent crime.

About Charlotte, NC

Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a major financial hub, sits in the Carolina Piedmont. The region is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, reflecting its deep ties to motorsports. Its diverse population has grown significantly, making it North Carolina's largest county. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 1,003,130, Charlotte has a total crime rate of 4,439.0 per 100,000 residents.

About Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana, the seat of Orange County, sits along the Santa Ana River. Its historic downtown, including the Yost Theater, reflects its rich past. Over 75% of its diverse population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 310,304, Santa Ana has a total crime rate of 2,195.6 per 100,000 residents.

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