Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Cruz, 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.
Is Los Angeles or Santa Cruz Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than Santa Cruz (Safety Score 35/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 3,128 for Santa Cruz — 29% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Santa Cruz has a 51% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 61.9x 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
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Cruz — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Santa Cruz | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 3,128.2 | -915.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 612.9 | +115.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 4.9 | +2.1 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 42.4 | -2.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 102.7 | +107.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 463.0 | +8.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 2,515.2 | -1,031.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 135.3 | +237.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 2,221.8 | -1,370.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 158.1 | +101.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Cruz, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Santa Cruz safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 3,128 for Santa Cruz — a 29% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Santa Cruz has 612.9. Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, California, a coastal city known for its historic Beach Boardwalk, sits on Monterey Bay. It's home to a significant student population, including the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 61,346, Santa Cruz has a total crime rate of 3,128.2 per 100,000 residents.