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Los Altos vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Los Altos crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Los Altos or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Altos is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 64/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,289 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 38% lower. Los Altos has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Los Altos has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 47.0x 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 Los Altos, CA?

Los Altos — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Los Altos, CA

Los Altos, CA
Safety Score 64/100
Coverage 29,551
Total Crime Rate 1,289.3
Category Wins 6/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Altos San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,289.3 2,082.4 -793.1
Violent Crime Rate 77.8 412.4 -334.6
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 10.2 21.4 -11.2
Robbery Rate 16.9 77.4 -60.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.8 310.9 -260.2
Property Crime Rate 1,211.5 1,670.0 -458.6
Burglary Rate 253.8 187.4 +66.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 903.5 1,087.1 -183.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 54.1 395.5 -341.4

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

Moving from Los Altos, CA to San Diego, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Altos or San Diego safer?

Los Altos is safer with a total crime rate of 1,289 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 38% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Altos has a violent crime rate of 77.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Los Altos has lower violent crime.

About Los Altos, CA

Los Altos, California, a suburban community in Santa Clara County, was incorporated in 1956. Known for its affluent residential areas and a charming downtown, it's situated at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area. With a safety score of 64/100 and a population coverage of 29,551, Los Altos has a total crime rate of 1,289.3 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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