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Petaluma vs San Jose Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Petaluma crime rate · San Jose crime rate

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Is Petaluma or San Jose Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Petaluma is safer than San Jose (Safety Score 59/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 1,445 per 100,000 versus 3,195 for San Jose — 55% 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 Jose is 16.4x 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 Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Jose — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Petaluma, CA

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

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 956,840
Total Crime Rate 3,194.8
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Petaluma San Jose Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,444.6 3,194.8 -1,750.2
Violent Crime Rate 271.8 606.9 -335.1
Murder Rate 0.0 2.7 -2.7
Rape Rate 44.5 77.3 -32.9
Robbery Rate 44.5 140.8 -96.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 182.9 386.0 -203.0
Property Crime Rate 1,172.8 2,587.9 -1,415.1
Burglary Rate 95.7 427.0 -331.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 976.2 1,523.2 -547.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 100.9 637.6 -536.8

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

Moving from Petaluma, CA to San Jose, 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 Jose safer?

Petaluma is safer with a total crime rate of 1,445 per 100K vs 3,195 for San Jose — a 55% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Petaluma has a violent crime rate of 271.8 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. 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 Jose, CA

San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 956,840, San Jose has a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents.

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