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Los Altos vs San Jose Crime Comparison

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

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

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Is Los Altos or San Jose Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Altos is safer than San Jose (Safety Score 64/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 1,289 per 100,000 versus 3,195 for San Jose — 60% lower. Los Altos has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: San Jose is 32.4x 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 Jose — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Los Altos, CA

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

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 956,840
Total Crime Rate 3,194.8
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Altos San Jose Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,289.3 3,194.8 -1,905.5
Violent Crime Rate 77.8 606.9 -529.1
Murder Rate 0.0 2.7 -2.7
Rape Rate 10.2 77.3 -67.2
Robbery Rate 16.9 140.8 -123.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.8 386.0 -335.2
Property Crime Rate 1,211.5 2,587.9 -1,376.4
Burglary Rate 253.8 427.0 -173.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 903.5 1,523.2 -619.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 54.1 637.6 -583.5

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

Moving from Los Altos, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Altos or San Jose safer?

Los Altos is safer with a total crime rate of 1,289 per 100K vs 3,195 for San Jose — a 60% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Altos has a violent crime rate of 77.8 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. 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 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.

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