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Petaluma vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Petaluma crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is Petaluma or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Petaluma is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 59/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,445 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 31% lower. Petaluma has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Petaluma has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 23.7x 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 Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Petaluma, CA

Petaluma, CA
Safety Score 59/100
Coverage 58,493
Total Crime Rate 1,444.6
Category Wins 7/7

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Petaluma San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,444.6 2,082.4 -637.8
Violent Crime Rate 271.8 412.4 -140.6
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 44.5 21.4 +23.1
Robbery Rate 44.5 77.4 -32.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 182.9 310.9 -128.0
Property Crime Rate 1,172.8 1,670.0 -497.2
Burglary Rate 95.7 187.4 -91.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 976.2 1,087.1 -110.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 100.9 395.5 -294.7

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

Moving from Petaluma, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petaluma or San Diego safer?

Petaluma is safer with a total crime rate of 1,445 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 31% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Petaluma has a violent crime rate of 271.8 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Petaluma has lower violent crime.

About Petaluma, CA

Nestled in Sonoma County, Petaluma is a historic dairy town known for its well-preserved iron-front buildings and a population of around 60,000. It straddles the Petaluma River, flowing into San Pablo Bay. With a safety score of 59/100 and a population coverage of 58,493, Petaluma has a total crime rate of 1,444.6 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.

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