Moving from Kelso, WA to San Diego, CA?
An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Kelso or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Kelso (Safety Score 38/100 vs 36/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,163 for Kelso — 4% lower. Kelso has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 68% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 110.1x 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 Kelso, WA?
Kelso — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kelso, WA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kelso | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,163.2 | 2,082.4 | +80.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 229.8 | 412.4 | -182.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.9 | 2.5 | +5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 47.5 | 21.4 | +26.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.2 | 77.4 | +9.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.2 | 310.9 | -223.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,933.4 | 1,670.0 | +263.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 285.3 | 187.4 | +97.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,481.8 | 1,087.1 | +394.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 166.4 | 395.5 | -229.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Kelso, WA 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelso or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,163 for Kelso — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kelso has a violent crime rate of 229.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Kelso has lower violent crime.
About Kelso, WA
Kelso, Washington, a Cowlitz River city founded by Peter Crawford, is known as the "Smelt Capital of the World." Situated in Cowlitz County, it shares a border with Longview, and its population was 12,969 as of the 2020 census. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 12,620, Kelso has a total crime rate of 2,163.2 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.