Is New York City or Santa Cruz Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, New York City is safer than Santa Cruz (Safety Score 19/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,128 for Santa Cruz — 3% lower. New York City has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Santa Cruz has a 45% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 135.3x 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 New York City, NY?
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Cruz — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City, NY
Santa Cruz, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | New York City | Santa Cruz | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,039.7 | 3,128.2 | -88.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 671.4 | 612.9 | +58.5 |
| Murder Rate | 3.9 | 4.9 | -1.0 |
| Rape Rate | 23.4 | 42.4 | -19.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 187.5 | 102.7 | +84.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 456.2 | 463.0 | -6.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,368.3 | 2,515.2 | -147.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 135.3 | +19.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,015.0 | 2,221.8 | -206.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.5 | 158.1 | +40.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Santa Cruz safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,128 for Santa Cruz — a 3% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
New York City has a violent crime rate of 671.4 per 100K while Santa Cruz has 612.9. Santa Cruz has lower violent crime.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, California, a coastal city known for its historic Beach Boardwalk, sits on Monterey Bay. It's home to a significant student population, including the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 61,346, Santa Cruz has a total crime rate of 3,128.2 per 100,000 residents.