Is Dover or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Dover (Safety Score 38/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 7,082 for Dover — 71% lower. Dover has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 86% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 34.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Dover — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dover, DE
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dover | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 7,082.1 | 2,082.4 | +4,999.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,012.8 | 412.4 | +600.4 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 2.5 | +14.9 |
| Rape Rate | 39.9 | 21.4 | +18.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 114.8 | 77.4 | +37.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 840.7 | 310.9 | +529.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,069.3 | 1,670.0 | +4,399.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 139.7 | 187.4 | -47.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 5,572.9 | 1,087.1 | +4,485.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 356.7 | 395.5 | -38.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 7,082 for Dover — a 71% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dover has a violent crime rate of 1,012.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Dover, DE
Dover, Delaware, the state capital, is a small city on the St. Jones River. Home to Dover International Speedway, it's the second-largest city in Delaware with a population just under 40,000. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 40,087, Dover has a total crime rate of 7,082.1 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.