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Los Angeles vs New York City Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Los Angeles crime rate · New York City crime rate

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Is Los Angeles or New York City Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than New York City (Safety Score 35/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 27% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 44% lower rate.

Note: New York City is 2.2x 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 Angeles, CA?

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

New York City — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 3,796,352
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5
Category Wins 2/7

New York City, NY

New York City, NY
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 8,299,271
Total Crime Rate 3,039.7
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Angeles New York City Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5 3,039.7 -827.2
Violent Crime Rate 728.5 671.4 +57.1
Murder Rate 7.0 3.9 +3.0
Rape Rate 40.3 23.4 +16.9
Robbery Rate 209.9 187.5 +22.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 471.4 456.2 +15.2
Property Crime Rate 1,483.9 2,368.3 -884.4
Burglary Rate 372.8 154.7 +218.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 851.5 2,015.0 -1,163.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 259.6 198.5 +61.1

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

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to New York City, NY?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles or New York City safer?

Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.

About New York City, NY

New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.

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