Is Durham or Los Angeles Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Durham is safer than Los Angeles (Safety Score 98/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 265 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles — 88% lower. Durham has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Durham has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 257.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Durham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Durham, NH
Los Angeles, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Durham | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 265.0 | 2,212.5 | -1,947.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 40.8 | 728.5 | -687.8 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 7.0 | -0.2 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 40.3 | -6.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 209.9 | -209.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 0.0 | 471.4 | -471.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 224.2 | 1,483.9 | -1,259.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 0.0 | 372.8 | -372.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 210.6 | 851.5 | -640.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 13.6 | 259.6 | -246.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or Los Angeles safer?
Durham is safer with a total crime rate of 265 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles — a 88% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Durham has a violent crime rate of 40.8 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. Durham has lower violent crime.
About Durham, NH
Durham, NH, home to the University of New Hampshire, is a small New England town on the Oyster River. It boasts a population of around 16,000, significantly augmented by its student body. With a safety score of 98/100 and a population coverage of 14,718, Durham has a total crime rate of 265.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.