Is Kinston or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Kinston (Safety Score 38/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 5,938 for Kinston — 65% lower. Kinston has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 88% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 72.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Kinston — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kinston, NC
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kinston | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,938.4 | 2,082.4 | +3,856.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 974.2 | 412.4 | +561.8 |
| Murder Rate | 20.7 | 2.5 | +18.2 |
| Rape Rate | 77.7 | 21.4 | +56.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 82.9 | 77.4 | +5.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 777.3 | 310.9 | +466.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,964.2 | 1,670.0 | +3,294.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 994.9 | 187.4 | +807.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,725.8 | 1,087.1 | +2,638.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 243.6 | 395.5 | -152.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinston or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 5,938 for Kinston — a 65% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kinston has a violent crime rate of 974.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Kinston, NC
Kinston, a historic city in eastern North Carolina, is home to the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. This Lenoir County seat has a population of around 20,000 residents. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 19,298, Kinston has a total crime rate of 5,938.4 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.