New York City vs Los Angeles Crime Comparison
Is New York City or Los Angeles Safer?
Los Angeles is the safer city, with a total crime rate 27% lower than New York City based on 2024 FBI data. New York City has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 44% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 2.2x larger by population, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
New York City, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | New York City | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,039.7 | 2,212.5 | +827.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 671.4 | 728.5 | -57.1 |
| Murder Rate | 3.9 | 7.0 | -3.0 |
| Rape Rate | 23.4 | 40.3 | -16.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 187.5 | 209.9 | -22.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 456.2 | 471.4 | -15.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,368.3 | 1,483.9 | +884.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 372.8 | -218.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,015.0 | 851.5 | +1,163.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.5 | 259.6 | -61.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Los Angeles safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 27% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
New York City has a violent crime rate of 671.4 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. New York City has lower violent crime.