Is Flint or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Flint (Safety Score 38/100 vs 27/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,570 for Flint — 19% lower. Flint has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 90% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 17.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Flint — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Flint, MI
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Flint | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,570.0 | 2,082.4 | +487.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,257.9 | 412.4 | +845.5 |
| Murder Rate | 25.3 | 2.5 | +22.7 |
| Rape Rate | 59.4 | 21.4 | +38.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 60.6 | 77.4 | -16.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,112.6 | 310.9 | +801.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,312.2 | 1,670.0 | -357.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 277.8 | 187.4 | +90.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 732.5 | 1,087.1 | -354.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 301.8 | 395.5 | -93.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flint or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,570 for Flint — a 19% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Flint has a violent crime rate of 1,257.9 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Flint, MI
Flint, Michigan, once a General Motors boomtown, sits on the Flint River in Genesee County. Its population is predominantly African American, a legacy of the Great Migration. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 79,183, Flint has a total crime rate of 2,570.0 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.