Moving from Novato, 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.
Is Novato or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Novato is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 53/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,608 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 23% lower. Novato has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Novato has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 27.1x 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 Novato, CA?
Novato — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Novato, CA
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Novato | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,607.6 | 2,082.4 | -474.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 253.6 | 412.4 | -158.8 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 33.2 | 21.4 | +11.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.8 | 77.4 | -30.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 173.6 | 310.9 | -137.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,353.9 | 1,670.0 | -316.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 78.0 | 187.4 | -109.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,114.0 | 1,087.1 | +26.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 161.9 | 395.5 | -233.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Novato, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novato or San Diego safer?
Novato is safer with a total crime rate of 1,608 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 23% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Novato has a violent crime rate of 253.6 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Novato has lower violent crime.
About Novato, CA
Novato, a Marin County city, was once home to Hamilton Air Force Base. Today, its diverse population of over 50,000 resides in a landscape dotted with wetlands and rolling hills. With a safety score of 53/100 and a population coverage of 51,258, Novato has a total crime rate of 1,607.6 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.