Is Los Angeles or Salem Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Salem is safer than Los Angeles (Safety Score 49/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles — 23% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Salem has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 82.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Salem, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 1,706.0 | +506.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 152.3 | +576.2 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 0.0 | +7.0 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 13.1 | +27.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 34.8 | +175.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 104.5 | +366.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 1,553.7 | -69.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 106.6 | +266.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 1,347.0 | -495.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 100.1 | +159.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Salem safer?
Salem is safer with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles — a 23% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Salem has 152.3. Salem 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 Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts, renowned for the 1692 witch trials, is a small coastal city north of Boston. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant portion employed in tourism and education. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 45,955, Salem has a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents.