Is Lake Charles or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Lake Charles (Safety Score 38/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,083 for Lake Charles — 32% lower. Lake Charles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 85% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 17.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles, LA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lake Charles | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 2,082.4 | +1,000.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 412.4 | +200.6 |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 2.5 | +14.2 |
| Rape Rate | 52.6 | 21.4 | +31.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 64.1 | 77.4 | -13.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 479.6 | 310.9 | +168.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 1,670.0 | +799.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 613.0 | 187.4 | +425.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,651.7 | 1,087.1 | +564.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 205.2 | 395.5 | -190.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,083 for Lake Charles — a 32% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, a port city in southwest Louisiana, is known for its Cajun and Creole culture. It sits on Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River, a hub for the petrochemical industry. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 77,982, Lake Charles has a total crime rate of 3,082.8 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.