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El Cajon vs San Jose Crime Comparison

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

Full report: El Cajon crime rate · San Jose crime rate

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Is El Cajon or San Jose Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, El Cajon is safer than San Jose (Safety Score 43/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 1,935 per 100,000 versus 3,195 for San Jose — 39% lower. El Cajon has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where El Cajon has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Jose is 9.4x 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 SAFER than El Cajon, CA?

El Cajon — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Jose — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

El Cajon, CA

El Cajon, CA
Safety Score 43/100
Coverage 101,983
Total Crime Rate 1,934.6
Category Wins 7/7

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 956,840
Total Crime Rate 3,194.8
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type El Cajon San Jose Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,934.6 3,194.8 -1,260.2
Violent Crime Rate 434.4 606.9 -172.5
Murder Rate 0.0 2.7 -2.7
Rape Rate 26.5 77.3 -50.9
Robbery Rate 105.9 140.8 -34.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 302.0 386.0 -84.0
Property Crime Rate 1,500.3 2,587.9 -1,087.6
Burglary Rate 154.0 427.0 -273.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,083.5 1,523.2 -439.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 262.8 637.6 -374.8

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

Moving from El Cajon, CA to San Jose, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is El Cajon or San Jose safer?

El Cajon is safer with a total crime rate of 1,935 per 100K vs 3,195 for San Jose — a 39% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

El Cajon has a violent crime rate of 434.4 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. El Cajon has lower violent crime.

About El Cajon, CA

Nestled in a valley east of San Diego, El Cajon boasts a rich history as a stop along the old wagon trails. Today, it's a diverse community with a significant Chaldean American population, reflecting its unique cultural tapestry. With a safety score of 43/100 and a population coverage of 101,983, El Cajon has a total crime rate of 1,934.6 per 100,000 residents.

About San Jose, CA

San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 956,840, San Jose has a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents.

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