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Phoenix vs San Francisco Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Phoenix crime rate · San Francisco crime rate

Moving from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, CA?

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Is Phoenix or San Francisco Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Phoenix is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 17/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 31% lower. Phoenix has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Francisco has a 48% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 2.1x 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 Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Francisco — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 802,856
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Phoenix San Francisco Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4 4,525.6 -1,400.2
Violent Crime Rate 800.0 596.5 +203.5
Murder Rate 8.4 4.4 +4.0
Rape Rate 64.3 34.9 +29.4
Robbery Rate 181.6 267.2 -85.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 545.3 290.1 +255.3
Property Crime Rate 2,325.3 3,929.1 -1,603.8
Burglary Rate 317.2 637.5 -320.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,582.1 2,618.9 -1,036.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 426.0 672.7 -246.7

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

Moving from Phoenix, AZ to San Francisco, 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 San Francisco safer?

Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 31% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Phoenix has a violent crime rate of 800.0 per 100K while San Francisco has 596.5. San Francisco 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 San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, a vibrant Northern California port city renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spans a hilly peninsula. Home to a diverse population of nearly 850,000, it was a pivotal center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 802,856, San Francisco has a total crime rate of 4,525.6 per 100,000 residents.

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