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Dayton, OH vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Dayton crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Dayton, OH to San Diego, CA?

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Is Dayton, OH or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Dayton, OH (Safety Score 38/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 5,673 for Dayton, OH — 63% lower. Dayton 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 10.3x 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 Dayton, OH?

Dayton — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Dayton, OH

Dayton, OH
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 134,857
Total Crime Rate 5,673.4
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 Dayton San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,673.4 2,082.4 +3,591.0
Violent Crime Rate 1,339.2 412.4 +926.8
Murder Rate 29.7 2.5 +27.1
Rape Rate 116.4 21.4 +95.0
Robbery Rate 252.9 77.4 +175.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 940.3 310.9 +629.3
Property Crime Rate 4,334.2 1,670.0 +2,664.2
Burglary Rate 859.4 187.4 +672.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,144.5 1,087.1 +1,057.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,330.3 395.5 +934.8

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

Moving from Dayton, 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 Dayton or San Diego safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 5,673 for Dayton, OH — a 63% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Dayton has a violent crime rate of 1,339.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Dayton, OH

Dayton, birthplace of aviation, is a mid-sized city in southwest Ohio. Nestled in the Miami Valley, its population is diverse, with a notable manufacturing legacy. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 134,857, Dayton has a total crime rate of 5,673.4 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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