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Madison, WI vs Santa Ana, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Madison crime rate · Santa Ana crime rate

Moving from Madison, WI to Santa Ana, CA?

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Is Madison, WI or Santa Ana, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Madison, WI is safer than Santa Ana, CA (Safety Score 37/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 2,121 per 100,000 versus 2,196 for Santa Ana, CA — 3% lower. Madison has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Madison has a 68% lower rate.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Madison, WI?

Madison — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Santa Ana — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Madison, WI

Madison, WI
Safety Score 37/100
Coverage 282,045
Total Crime Rate 2,121.3
Category Wins 5/7

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana, CA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 310,304
Total Crime Rate 2,195.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Madison Santa Ana Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,121.3 2,195.6 -74.3
Violent Crime Rate 256.3 493.4 -237.1
Murder Rate 2.5 4.8 -2.4
Rape Rate 26.6 52.5 -25.9
Robbery Rate 33.7 106.0 -72.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 193.2 329.7 -136.5
Property Crime Rate 1,865.0 1,702.2 +162.8
Burglary Rate 158.5 225.6 -67.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,595.5 1,160.5 +435.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 111.0 316.1 -205.2

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

Moving from Madison, WI to Santa Ana, CA?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison or Santa Ana safer?

Madison, WI is safer with a total crime rate of 2,121 per 100K vs 2,196 for Santa Ana, CA — a 3% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Madison has a violent crime rate of 256.3 per 100K while Santa Ana has 493.4. Madison has lower violent crime.

About Madison, WI

Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, sits on an isthmus between two lakes, Mendota and Monona. Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it's known for its progressive politics and vibrant student culture. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 282,045, Madison has a total crime rate of 2,121.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana, the seat of Orange County, sits along the Santa Ana River. Its historic downtown, including the Yost Theater, reflects its rich past. Over 75% of its diverse population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 310,304, Santa Ana has a total crime rate of 2,195.6 per 100,000 residents.

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