Is Melrose or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Melrose is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 91/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 530 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 75% lower. Melrose has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Melrose has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 46.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Melrose — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Melrose, MA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Melrose | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 530.5 | 2,082.4 | -1,551.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 100.7 | 412.4 | -311.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 21.4 | -21.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 13.4 | 77.4 | -64.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.3 | 310.9 | -223.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 429.8 | 1,670.0 | -1,240.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 40.3 | 187.4 | -147.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 335.8 | 1,087.1 | -751.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 53.7 | 395.5 | -341.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose or San Diego safer?
Melrose is safer with a total crime rate of 530 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 75% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Melrose has a violent crime rate of 100.7 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Melrose has lower violent crime.
About Melrose, MA
Melrose is a small, affluent city north of Boston, known for its Victorian architecture. Bordered by the Middlesex Fells Reservation, it offers a suburban feel with easy access to urban amenities. With a safety score of 91/100 and a population coverage of 29,784, Melrose has a total crime rate of 530.5 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.