Is Durham or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Durham is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 98/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 265 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 87% lower. Durham has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Durham has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 94.4x 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
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Durham, NH
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Durham | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 265.0 | 2,082.4 | -1,817.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 40.8 | 412.4 | -371.6 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 2.5 | +4.3 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 21.4 | +12.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 77.4 | -77.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 0.0 | 310.9 | -310.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 224.2 | 1,670.0 | -1,445.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 0.0 | 187.4 | -187.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 210.6 | 1,087.1 | -876.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 13.6 | 395.5 | -381.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or San Diego safer?
Durham is safer with a total crime rate of 265 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 87% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Durham has a violent crime rate of 40.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. 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 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.