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Irvine vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Irvine crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Irvine or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Irvine is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 57/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,474 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 29% lower. Irvine has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Irvine has a 80% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 4.4x 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 Irvine, CA?

Irvine — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Irvine, CA

Irvine, CA
Safety Score 57/100
Coverage 316,764
Total Crime Rate 1,473.7
Category Wins 5/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Irvine San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,473.7 2,082.4 -608.8
Violent Crime Rate 84.0 412.4 -328.4
Murder Rate 1.6 2.5 -0.9
Rape Rate 13.3 21.4 -8.1
Robbery Rate 22.1 77.4 -55.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 47.0 310.9 -263.9
Property Crime Rate 1,389.7 1,670.0 -280.3
Burglary Rate 197.9 187.4 +10.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,122.0 1,087.1 +34.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 69.8 395.5 -325.8

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

Moving from Irvine, 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 Irvine or San Diego safer?

Irvine is safer with a total crime rate of 1,474 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 29% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Irvine has a violent crime rate of 84.0 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Irvine has lower violent crime.

About Irvine, CA

Irvine, a master-planned community developed by the Irvine Company, is home to a large Asian population and the University of California, Irvine. Located in Orange County, it features extensive green spaces and business parks. With a safety score of 57/100 and a population coverage of 316,764, Irvine has a total crime rate of 1,473.7 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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