Is Garden City or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Garden City (Safety Score 38/100 vs 27/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,596 for Garden City — 20% lower. Garden City has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 32% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 51.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Garden City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Garden City, KS
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Garden City | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,596.1 | 2,082.4 | +513.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 515.5 | 412.4 | +103.2 |
| Murder Rate | 3.7 | 2.5 | +1.2 |
| Rape Rate | 58.9 | 21.4 | +37.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 55.2 | 77.4 | -22.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 394.0 | 310.9 | +83.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,080.6 | 1,670.0 | +410.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 187.4 | -32.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,778.6 | 1,087.1 | +691.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 147.3 | 395.5 | -248.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garden City or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,596 for Garden City — a 20% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Garden City has a violent crime rate of 515.5 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Garden City, KS
Garden City, the "Air Capital of the West," lies in southwest Kansas. This agricultural hub, home to a large meatpacking industry, has experienced significant demographic shifts. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 27,156, Garden City has a total crime rate of 2,596.1 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.