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Helena, AL vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Helena crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Helena, AL to San Diego, CA?

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Is Helena, AL or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Helena, AL is safer than San Diego, CA (Safety Score 92/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 507 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego, CA — 76% lower. Helena has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: San Diego is 61.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Helena, AL?

Helena — 4-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Helena, AL

Helena, AL
Safety Score 92/100
Coverage 22,470
Total Crime Rate 507.3
Category Wins 7/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Helena San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 507.3 2,082.4 -1,575.1
Violent Crime Rate 71.2 412.4 -341.2
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 8.9 21.4 -12.5
Robbery Rate 0.0 77.4 -77.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 62.3 310.9 -248.6
Property Crime Rate 436.1 1,670.0 -1,233.9
Burglary Rate 53.4 187.4 -134.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 329.3 1,087.1 -757.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 53.4 395.5 -342.1

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

Moving from Helena, AL to San Diego, CA?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helena or San Diego safer?

Helena, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 507 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego, CA — a 76% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Helena has a violent crime rate of 71.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Helena has lower violent crime.

About Helena, AL

Helena, once a bustling railroad town, sits along the Cahaba River in Shelby County. This picturesque community, part of the Birmingham metropolitan area, has experienced significant population growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 92/100 and a population coverage of 22,470, Helena has a total crime rate of 507.3 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.

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