Is Council Bluffs or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Council Bluffs (Safety Score 38/100 vs 21/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,873 for Council Bluffs — 28% lower. Council Bluffs has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where San Diego has a 32% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 22.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Council Bluffs — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Council Bluffs, IA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Council Bluffs | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,873.0 | 2,082.4 | +790.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 420.8 | 412.4 | +8.4 |
| Murder Rate | 3.2 | 2.5 | +0.7 |
| Rape Rate | 72.3 | 21.4 | +50.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 70.7 | 77.4 | -6.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 274.6 | 310.9 | -36.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,452.3 | 1,670.0 | +782.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 486.6 | 187.4 | +299.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,634.8 | 1,087.1 | +547.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 330.8 | 395.5 | -64.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Council Bluffs or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,873 for Council Bluffs — a 28% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Council Bluffs has a violent crime rate of 420.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Council Bluffs, IA
Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, was a pivotal starting point for the Mormon Trail. This city of over 62,000 residents in Pottawattamie County has a rich railway history. With a safety score of 21/100 and a population coverage of 62,269, Council Bluffs has a total crime rate of 2,873.0 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.