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Merced vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Merced crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Merced or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Merced (Safety Score 38/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,577 for Merced — 42% lower. Merced has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 65% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 14.5x 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 Merced, CA?

Merced — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Merced, CA

Merced, CA
Safety Score 12/100
Coverage 96,077
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3
Category Wins 0/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Merced San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3 2,082.4 +1,494.9
Violent Crime Rate 784.8 412.4 +372.4
Murder Rate 7.3 2.5 +4.8
Rape Rate 103.0 21.4 +81.7
Robbery Rate 166.5 77.4 +89.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 507.9 310.9 +197.0
Property Crime Rate 2,792.6 1,670.0 +1,122.5
Burglary Rate 569.3 187.4 +381.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,738.2 1,087.1 +651.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 485.0 395.5 +89.5

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

Moving from Merced, CA to San Diego, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merced or San Diego safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,577 for Merced — a 42% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Merced has a violent crime rate of 784.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Merced, CA

Merced, a Central Valley city known for its proximity to Yosemite, serves as a significant agricultural hub. This community, home to a University of California campus, experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 96,077, Merced has a total crime rate of 3,577.3 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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