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Imperial vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Imperial crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Imperial or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Imperial is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 99/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 259 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 88% lower. Imperial has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: San Diego is 63.2x 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 Imperial, CA?

Imperial — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Imperial, CA

Imperial, CA
Safety Score 99/100
Coverage 21,980
Total Crime Rate 259.3
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 Imperial San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 259.3 2,082.4 -1,823.1
Violent Crime Rate 77.3 412.4 -335.0
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 9.1 21.4 -12.3
Robbery Rate 0.0 77.4 -77.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 68.2 310.9 -242.7
Property Crime Rate 182.0 1,670.0 -1,488.0
Burglary Rate 31.9 187.4 -155.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 104.6 1,087.1 -982.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 45.5 395.5 -350.0

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

Moving from Imperial, CA to San Diego, 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 Imperial or San Diego safer?

Imperial is safer with a total crime rate of 259 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 88% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Imperial has a violent crime rate of 77.3 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Imperial has lower violent crime.

About Imperial, CA

Imperial, California, a city in the Imperial Valley near the Mexican border, was incorporated in 1904. Its desert climate supports a significant agricultural industry, with a population around 20,000. With a safety score of 99/100 and a population coverage of 21,980, Imperial has a total crime rate of 259.3 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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