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Manhattan vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Manhattan crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Manhattan, IL to San Diego, CA?

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Is Manhattan or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Manhattan is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 99/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 229 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 89% lower. Manhattan has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Manhattan has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 127.3x 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 SAFER than Manhattan, IL?

Manhattan — 2-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Manhattan, IL

Manhattan, IL
Safety Score 99/100
Coverage 10,912
Total Crime Rate 229.1
Category Wins 7/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Manhattan San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 229.1 2,082.4 -1,853.3
Violent Crime Rate 36.7 412.4 -375.7
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 9.2 21.4 -12.2
Robbery Rate 0.0 77.4 -77.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 27.5 310.9 -283.5
Property Crime Rate 192.5 1,670.0 -1,477.6
Burglary Rate 18.3 187.4 -169.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 165.0 1,087.1 -922.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 9.2 395.5 -386.4

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

Moving from Manhattan, IL to San Diego, 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 Manhattan or San Diego safer?

Manhattan is safer with a total crime rate of 229 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 89% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Manhattan has a violent crime rate of 36.7 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Manhattan has lower violent crime.

About Manhattan, IL

Manhattan, Illinois, a village in Will County, was founded by German immigrants in the mid-19th century and named after New York City. This agricultural community, with a population around 8,000, is situated about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. With a safety score of 99/100 and a population coverage of 10,912, Manhattan has a total crime rate of 229.1 per 100,000 residents.

About San Diego, CA

San Diego, California, a major port city with a significant Hispanic population, sits on the Pacific Ocean just north of the Mexican border. Known for its mild climate and Balboa Park, it's also home to a large naval presence. With a safety score of 38/100 and a population coverage of 1,389,024, San Diego has a total crime rate of 2,082.4 per 100,000 residents.

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