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Columbia, MO vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Columbia crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Columbia, MO to San Diego, CA?

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Is Columbia, MO or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Columbia, MO (Safety Score 38/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,667 for Columbia, MO — 22% lower. Columbia has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 75% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 10.7x 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 Columbia, MO?

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 130,354
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6
Category Wins 3/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Columbia San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6 2,082.4 +584.2
Violent Crime Rate 349.1 412.4 -63.3
Murder Rate 10.0 2.5 +7.5
Rape Rate 38.4 21.4 +17.0
Robbery Rate 39.9 77.4 -37.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 259.3 310.9 -51.7
Property Crime Rate 2,317.5 1,670.0 +647.5
Burglary Rate 332.9 187.4 +145.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,605.6 1,087.1 +518.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 379.0 395.5 -16.6

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

Moving from Columbia, MO 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 Columbia or San Diego safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,667 for Columbia, MO — a 22% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Columbia has lower violent crime.

About Columbia, MO

Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, is a vibrant college town in central Missouri's Boone County. Its "District" area features historic buildings and local businesses, reflecting its growth as a regional hub. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 130,354, Columbia has a total crime rate of 2,666.6 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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