Is La Palma or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, La Palma is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 39/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 2,033 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 2% lower. La Palma has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where La Palma has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 93.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
La Palma — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
La Palma, CA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | La Palma | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,032.9 | 2,082.4 | -49.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 208.7 | 412.4 | -203.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 26.9 | 21.4 | +5.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 80.8 | 77.4 | +3.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 101.0 | 310.9 | -210.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,824.2 | 1,670.0 | +154.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 350.0 | 187.4 | +162.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,204.9 | 1,087.1 | +117.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 269.3 | 395.5 | -126.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Palma or San Diego safer?
La Palma is safer with a total crime rate of 2,033 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
La Palma has a violent crime rate of 208.7 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. La Palma has lower violent crime.
About La Palma, CA
La Palma, originally a dairy farm community, is a small Orange County city. It's largely residential, with a diverse population of around 15,000 within its compact 1.8 square miles. With a safety score of 39/100 and a population coverage of 14,856, La Palma has a total crime rate of 2,032.9 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.