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Los Angeles vs Santa Maria Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Los Angeles crime rate · Santa Maria crime rate

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Is Los Angeles or Santa Maria Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than Santa Maria (Safety Score 35/100 vs 28/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 2,543 for Santa Maria — 13% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Maria has a 61% lower rate.

Note: Los Angeles is 34.5x 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

Santa Maria — 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 3/7

Santa Maria, CA

Santa Maria, CA
Safety Score 28/100
Coverage 110,056
Total Crime Rate 2,543.3
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Los Angeles Santa Maria Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,212.5 2,543.3 -330.8
Violent Crime Rate 728.5 660.6 +68.0
Murder Rate 7.0 2.7 +4.2
Rape Rate 40.3 68.2 -27.9
Robbery Rate 209.9 173.6 +36.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 471.4 416.2 +55.2
Property Crime Rate 1,483.9 1,882.7 -398.8
Burglary Rate 372.8 312.6 +60.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 851.5 1,149.4 -297.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 259.6 420.7 -161.1

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

Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Maria, 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 Angeles or Santa Maria safer?

Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 2,543 for Santa Maria — a 13% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Santa Maria has 660.6. Santa Maria 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 Maria, CA

Santa Maria, California, a city in northern Santa Barbara County, is known for its barbecue and wine industry. It is the most populous city in the county, with a diverse, predominantly Hispanic population. With a safety score of 28/100 and a population coverage of 110,056, Santa Maria has a total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 residents.

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