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Port Townsend vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Port Townsend crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Port Townsend, WA to San Diego, CA?

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Is Port Townsend or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Port Townsend is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 44/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,884 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 10% lower. Port Townsend has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: San Diego is 130.9x 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 Port Townsend, WA?

Port Townsend — 3-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend, WA
Safety Score 44/100
Coverage 10,614
Total Crime Rate 1,884.3
Category Wins 5/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Port Townsend San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,884.3 2,082.4 -198.1
Violent Crime Rate 471.1 412.4 +58.7
Murder Rate 0.0 2.5 -2.5
Rape Rate 37.7 21.4 +16.3
Robbery Rate 28.3 77.4 -49.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 405.1 310.9 +94.2
Property Crime Rate 1,413.2 1,670.0 -256.8
Burglary Rate 169.6 187.4 -17.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,177.7 1,087.1 +90.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 66.0 395.5 -329.6

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

Moving from Port Townsend, WA to San Diego, 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 Port Townsend or San Diego safer?

Port Townsend is safer with a total crime rate of 1,884 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 10% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Port Townsend has a violent crime rate of 471.1 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Port Townsend, WA

Port Townsend, a Victorian seaport on the Olympic Peninsula, is home to many artists and retirees. Its historic downtown, a National Historic Landmark, features well-preserved 19th-century architecture. With a safety score of 44/100 and a population coverage of 10,614, Port Townsend has a total crime rate of 1,884.3 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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