Is Los Angeles or St. Joseph Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Los Angeles is safer than St. Joseph (Safety Score 35/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100,000 versus 4,579 for St. Joseph — 52% lower. Los Angeles has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where St. Joseph has a 74% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 54.1x 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
St. Joseph — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
St. Joseph, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | St. Joseph | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 4,579.5 | -2,367.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 728.6 | 0.0 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 4.3 | +2.7 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 178.2 | -137.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 54.2 | +155.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 491.9 | -20.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 3,850.9 | -2,367.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 536.1 | -163.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 2,774.5 | -1,923.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 540.4 | -280.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or St. Joseph safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 4,579 for St. Joseph — a 52% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while St. Joseph has 728.6. Los Angeles 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 St. Joseph, MO
St. Joseph, Missouri, a city on the Missouri River, was the starting point of the Pony Express. This Buchanan County seat is located across from Kansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 70,139, St. Joseph has a total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 residents.