Is La Mesa or Winter Haven Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Winter Haven is safer than La Mesa (Safety Score 47/100 vs 47/100), with a total crime rate of 1,785 per 100,000 versus 1,794 for La Mesa — 1% lower. La Mesa has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Winter Haven has a 72% lower rate.
La Mesa — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Winter Haven — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
La Mesa, CA
Winter Haven, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | La Mesa | Winter Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,794.5 | 1,784.7 | +9.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 415.9 | 235.5 | +180.4 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 6.7 | -0.1 |
| Rape Rate | 13.3 | 5.1 | +8.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 82.9 | 23.6 | +59.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 313.2 | 200.2 | +113.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,378.6 | 1,549.2 | -170.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 220.4 | 161.5 | +58.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 896.4 | 1,278.4 | -382.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 261.8 | 109.3 | +152.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Mesa or Winter Haven safer?
Winter Haven is safer with a total crime rate of 1,785 per 100K vs 1,794 for La Mesa — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
La Mesa has a violent crime rate of 415.9 per 100K while Winter Haven has 235.5. Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven, "The Chain of Lakes City," is a Polk County city in Central Florida. It was once home to Cypress Gardens, Florida's first theme park, which significantly shaped its tourism-dependent economy. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 59,450, Winter Haven has a total crime rate of 1,784.7 per 100,000 residents.