Moving from La Mesa, CA to San Jose, 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.
Is La Mesa or San Jose Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, La Mesa is safer than San Jose (Safety Score 47/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 1,794 per 100,000 versus 3,195 for San Jose — 44% lower. La Mesa has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Jose has a 59% lower rate.
Note: San Jose is 15.9x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than La Mesa, CA?
La Mesa — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Jose — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
La Mesa, CA
San Jose, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | La Mesa | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,794.5 | 3,194.8 | -1,400.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 415.9 | 606.9 | -191.0 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 2.7 | +3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 13.3 | 77.3 | -64.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 82.9 | 140.8 | -57.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 313.2 | 386.0 | -72.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,378.6 | 2,587.9 | -1,209.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 220.4 | 427.0 | -206.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 896.4 | 1,523.2 | -626.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 261.8 | 637.6 | -375.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from La Mesa, CA to San Jose, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Mesa or San Jose safer?
La Mesa is safer with a total crime rate of 1,794 per 100K vs 3,195 for San Jose — a 44% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
La Mesa has a violent crime rate of 415.9 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. La Mesa has lower violent crime.
About La Mesa, CA
La Mesa, "The Jewel of the Hills," is a city in San Diego County. Once home to a major stagecoach stop, it sits east of downtown San Diego, with a population exceeding 60,000. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 60,352, La Mesa has a total crime rate of 1,794.5 per 100,000 residents.
About San Jose, CA
San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 956,840, San Jose has a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents.