Share

Los Angeles vs San Rafael Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Los Angeles crime rate · San Rafael crime rate

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to San Rafael, 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.

Get the planner →

Is Los Angeles or San Rafael Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than San Rafael (Safety Score 35/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 3,015 for San Rafael — 27% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Rafael has a 76% lower rate.

Note: Los Angeles is 64.3x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Los Angeles, CA?

Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Rafael — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Los Angeles, CA

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

San Rafael, CA

San Rafael, CA
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 59,037
Total Crime Rate 3,015.1
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Angeles San Rafael Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5 3,015.1 -802.6
Violent Crime Rate 728.5 559.0 +169.6
Murder Rate 7.0 1.7 +5.3
Rape Rate 40.3 50.8 -10.5
Robbery Rate 209.9 149.1 +60.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 471.4 357.4 +114.0
Property Crime Rate 1,483.9 2,456.1 -972.2
Burglary Rate 372.8 264.2 +108.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 851.5 1,770.1 -918.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 259.6 421.8 -162.1

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

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to San Rafael, 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles or San Rafael safer?

Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 3,015 for San Rafael — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while San Rafael has 559.0. San Rafael 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 San Rafael, CA

Nestled in Marin County, San Rafael is a Bay Area city with a rich history, home to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, one of California's original missions. Its diverse population of over 60,000 residents reflects a blend of suburban charm and urban accessibility. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 59,037, San Rafael has a total crime rate of 3,015.1 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons