Is Garden Grove or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Garden Grove is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 39/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 2,035 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 2% lower. Garden Grove has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Garden Grove has a 76% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 8.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Garden Grove — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Garden Grove, CA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Garden Grove | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,035.4 | 2,082.4 | -47.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 276.6 | 412.4 | -135.8 |
| Murder Rate | 0.6 | 2.5 | -1.9 |
| Rape Rate | 15.0 | 21.4 | -6.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 65.9 | 77.4 | -11.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 195.2 | 310.9 | -115.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,758.9 | 1,670.0 | +88.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 307.7 | 187.4 | +120.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,175.2 | 1,087.1 | +88.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 276.0 | 395.5 | -119.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garden Grove or San Diego safer?
Garden Grove is safer with a total crime rate of 2,035 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Garden Grove has a violent crime rate of 276.6 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Garden Grove has lower violent crime.
About Garden Grove, CA
Garden Grove, once primarily an agricultural community, is a diverse Orange County city. Home to the Crystal Cathedral, it boasts a significant Vietnamese-American population and is centrally located near major freeways. With a safety score of 39/100 and a population coverage of 167,041, Garden Grove has a total crime rate of 2,035.4 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.