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Cleveland, OH vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cleveland crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Cleveland, OH to San Diego, CA?

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Is Cleveland, OH or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Cleveland, OH (Safety Score 38/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 5,987 for Cleveland, OH — 65% lower. Cleveland has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 92% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 3.8x 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 SAFER than Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, OH
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 362,762
Total Crime Rate 5,987.4
Category Wins 0/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cleveland San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,987.4 2,082.4 +3,905.0
Violent Crime Rate 1,561.1 412.4 +1,148.7
Murder Rate 30.1 2.5 +27.5
Rape Rate 140.9 21.4 +119.5
Robbery Rate 389.2 77.4 +311.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 1,000.9 310.9 +690.0
Property Crime Rate 4,426.3 1,670.0 +2,756.3
Burglary Rate 860.3 187.4 +672.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,419.5 1,087.1 +1,332.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,146.5 395.5 +751.0

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

Moving from Cleveland, OH 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 Cleveland or San Diego safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 5,987 for Cleveland, OH — a 65% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cleveland has a violent crime rate of 1,561.1 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, a city on Lake Erie, boasts a rich industrial past and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Its diverse population reflects a blend of historic European immigrant communities and growing newer populations. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 362,762, Cleveland has a total crime rate of 5,987.4 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.

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