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Phoenix, AZ vs Richmond, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Phoenix crime rate · Richmond crime rate

Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Richmond, CA?

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Is Phoenix, AZ or Richmond, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Phoenix, AZ is safer than Richmond, CA (Safety Score 17/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,685 for Richmond, CA — 15% lower. Phoenix has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Phoenix has a 21% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 14.7x 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 Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Richmond — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 5/7

Richmond, CA

Richmond, CA
Safety Score 11/100
Coverage 113,418
Total Crime Rate 3,685.5
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Phoenix Richmond Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4 3,685.5 -560.1
Violent Crime Rate 800.0 923.1 -123.1
Murder Rate 8.4 7.9 +0.4
Rape Rate 64.3 21.2 +43.1
Robbery Rate 181.6 231.0 -49.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 545.3 663.0 -117.7
Property Crime Rate 2,325.3 2,762.4 -437.0
Burglary Rate 317.2 128.7 +188.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,582.1 1,653.2 -71.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 426.0 980.4 -554.4

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

Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Richmond, CA?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix or Richmond safer?

Phoenix, AZ is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,685 for Richmond, CA — a 15% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Phoenix has a violent crime rate of 800.0 per 100K while Richmond has 923.1. Phoenix has lower violent crime.

About Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

About Richmond, CA

Richmond, California, a Bay Area city with a deep industrial past, was home to a major Kaiser Shipyard during WWII. This diverse city on the San Francisco Bay has a significant Black population, reflecting its wartime boom. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 113,418, Richmond has a total crime rate of 3,685.5 per 100,000 residents.

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