Share

Oakland, CA vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Oakland crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Oakland, 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.

Get the planner →

Is Oakland, CA or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Oakland, CA (Safety Score 38/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 9,156 for Oakland, CA — 77% lower. Oakland has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where San Diego has a 89% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 3.2x 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 Oakland, CA?

Oakland — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Oakland, CA

Oakland, CA
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 435,042
Total Crime Rate 9,155.7
Category Wins 0/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Oakland San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 9,155.7 2,082.4 +7,073.3
Violent Crime Rate 1,925.3 412.4 +1,513.0
Murder Rate 18.6 2.5 +16.1
Rape Rate 68.0 21.4 +46.7
Robbery Rate 680.4 77.4 +603.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 1,158.3 310.9 +847.3
Property Crime Rate 7,230.3 1,670.0 +5,560.3
Burglary Rate 786.8 187.4 +599.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 4,164.7 1,087.1 +3,077.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 2,278.9 395.5 +1,883.3

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

Moving from Oakland, 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oakland or San Diego safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 9,156 for Oakland, CA — a 77% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Oakland has a violent crime rate of 1,925.3 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Oakland, CA

Oakland, a diverse East Bay city, boasts a rich history of activism and art, including its vibrant jazz scene. Geographically, it sits on the San Francisco Bay's eastern shore, home to a significant port and varied topography. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 435,042, Oakland has a total crime rate of 9,155.7 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.

More Crime Rate Comparisons