Phoenix vs San Diego Crime Comparison
Is Phoenix or San Diego Safer?
San Diego is the safer city, with a total crime rate 33% lower than Phoenix based on 2024 FBI data. Phoenix has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 70% lower rate.
Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score
43/100
Population
1,662,809
Total Crime Rate
3,125.4
Category Wins
0/7
San Diego, CA
Safety Score
62/100
Population
1,389,024
Total Crime Rate
2,082.4
Category Wins
7/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Phoenix | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,125.4 | 2,082.4 | +1,043.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 800.0 | 412.4 | +387.7 |
| Murder Rate | 8.4 | 2.5 | +5.8 |
| Rape Rate | 64.3 | 21.4 | +42.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 181.6 | 77.4 | +104.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 545.3 | 310.9 | +234.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,325.3 | 1,670.0 | +655.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 317.2 | 187.4 | +129.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,582.1 | 1,087.1 | +495.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 426.0 | 395.5 | +30.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phoenix or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,125 for Phoenix — a 33% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Phoenix has a violent crime rate of 800.0 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.