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Merced vs San Francisco Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Merced crime rate · San Francisco crime rate

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Is Merced or San Francisco Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Merced is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 12/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,577 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 21% lower. Merced has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Francisco has a 40% lower rate.

Note: San Francisco is 8.4x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Merced, CA?

Merced — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

San Francisco — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Merced, CA

Merced, CA
Safety Score 12/100
Coverage 96,077
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3
Category Wins 5/7

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 802,856
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Merced San Francisco Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3 4,525.6 -948.3
Violent Crime Rate 784.8 596.5 +188.3
Murder Rate 7.3 4.4 +2.9
Rape Rate 103.0 34.9 +68.2
Robbery Rate 166.5 267.2 -100.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 507.9 290.1 +217.8
Property Crime Rate 2,792.6 3,929.1 -1,136.6
Burglary Rate 569.3 637.5 -68.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,738.2 2,618.9 -880.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 485.0 672.7 -187.7

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

Moving from Merced, CA to San Francisco, 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 Francisco safer?

Merced is safer with a total crime rate of 3,577 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 21% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Merced has a violent crime rate of 784.8 per 100K while San Francisco has 596.5. San Francisco 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 Francisco, CA

San Francisco, a vibrant Northern California port city renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spans a hilly peninsula. Home to a diverse population of nearly 850,000, it was a pivotal center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 802,856, San Francisco has a total crime rate of 4,525.6 per 100,000 residents.

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