Moving from Chico, 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.
Is Chico or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Chico (Safety Score 38/100 vs 27/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,599 for Chico — 20% lower. Chico has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where San Diego has a 41% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 13.8x 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 Chico, CA?
Chico — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chico, CA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chico | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,599.4 | 2,082.4 | +517.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 701.2 | 412.4 | +288.8 |
| Murder Rate | 2.0 | 2.5 | -0.5 |
| Rape Rate | 137.9 | 21.4 | +116.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 82.3 | 77.4 | +4.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 477.0 | 310.9 | +166.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,898.2 | 1,670.0 | +228.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 208.3 | 187.4 | +20.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,486.7 | 1,087.1 | +399.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 203.3 | 395.5 | -192.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Chico, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chico or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,599 for Chico — a 20% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chico has a violent crime rate of 701.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Chico, CA
Chico, home to California State University, Chico, is a city in the Sacramento Valley. It boasts Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The city's population is around 100,000. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 100,831, Chico has a total crime rate of 2,599.4 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.