Is Los Angeles or Surprise Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Surprise is safer than Los Angeles (Safety Score 75/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 985 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles — 55% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Surprise has a 95% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 23.3x 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
Surprise — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Surprise, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 984.7 | +1,227.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 109.1 | +619.5 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 7.4 | -0.4 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 16.5 | +23.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 11.0 | +198.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 74.1 | +397.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 875.6 | +608.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 94.4 | +278.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 682.0 | +169.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 99.3 | +160.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Surprise safer?
Surprise is safer with a total crime rate of 985 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles — a 55% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Surprise has 109.1. Surprise 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 Surprise, AZ
Surprise, Arizona, once a small farming community founded in 1938, is now a rapidly growing city in the Sonoran Desert. Located northwest of Phoenix, it's home to a significant population of retirees and families. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 163,202, Surprise has a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents.