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Merced vs San Jose Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Merced crime rate · San Jose crime rate

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Is Merced or San Jose Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Jose is safer than Merced (Safety Score 16/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 3,195 per 100,000 versus 3,577 for Merced — 11% lower. Merced has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Jose has a 63% lower rate.

Note: San Jose is 10.0x 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 Jose — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Merced, CA

Merced, CA
Safety Score 12/100
Coverage 96,077
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3
Category Wins 1/7

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 956,840
Total Crime Rate 3,194.8
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Merced San Jose Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,577.3 3,194.8 +382.6
Violent Crime Rate 784.8 606.9 +177.9
Murder Rate 7.3 2.7 +4.6
Rape Rate 103.0 77.3 +25.7
Robbery Rate 166.5 140.8 +25.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 507.9 386.0 +122.0
Property Crime Rate 2,792.6 2,587.9 +204.7
Burglary Rate 569.3 427.0 +142.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,738.2 1,523.2 +215.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 485.0 637.6 -152.6

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

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

San Jose is safer with a total crime rate of 3,195 per 100K vs 3,577 for Merced — a 11% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Merced has a violent crime rate of 784.8 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. San Jose 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 Jose, CA

San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 956,840, San Jose has a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents.

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