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Knoxville vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Knoxville crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Knoxville, TN to San Diego, CA?

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Is Knoxville or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Knoxville (Safety Score 38/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,462 for Knoxville — 40% lower. Knoxville has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 77% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 6.9x 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 Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 200,457
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6
Category Wins 1/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Knoxville San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6 2,082.4 +1,379.2
Violent Crime Rate 740.3 412.4 +327.9
Murder Rate 11.0 2.5 +8.5
Rape Rate 64.9 21.4 +43.5
Robbery Rate 81.8 77.4 +4.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 582.7 310.9 +271.7
Property Crime Rate 2,721.3 1,670.0 +1,051.3
Burglary Rate 328.8 187.4 +141.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,013.9 1,087.1 +926.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 378.6 395.5 -16.9

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

Moving from Knoxville, TN 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 Knoxville or San Diego safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,462 for Knoxville — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Knoxville has a violent crime rate of 740.3 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, is a city of just under 200,000 residents. It boasts a rich musical heritage, notably as the birthplace of the Everly Brothers. The Tennessee River flows along its downtown, a reminder of its historical role in trade and industry. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 200,457, Knoxville has a total crime rate of 3,461.6 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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