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Rochester, MN vs San Diego, CA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Rochester crime rate · San Diego crime rate

Moving from Rochester, MN to San Diego, CA?

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Is Rochester, MN or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Rochester, MN is safer than San Diego, CA (Safety Score 56/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego, CA — 27% lower. Rochester has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Rochester has a 66% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 11.3x 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 Rochester, MN?

Rochester — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Rochester, MN

Rochester, MN
Safety Score 56/100
Coverage 122,694
Total Crime Rate 1,522.5
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 Rochester San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,522.5 2,082.4 -559.9
Violent Crime Rate 154.0 412.4 -258.3
Murder Rate 4.1 2.5 +1.6
Rape Rate 26.1 21.4 +4.7
Robbery Rate 26.1 77.4 -51.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 97.8 310.9 -213.1
Property Crime Rate 1,368.5 1,670.0 -301.6
Burglary Rate 173.6 187.4 -13.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,103.6 1,087.1 +16.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 91.3 395.5 -304.3

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

Moving from Rochester, MN 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 Rochester or San Diego safer?

Rochester, MN is safer with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego, CA — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 154.0 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. Rochester has lower violent crime.

About Rochester, MN

Rochester, Minnesota, home to the Mayo Clinic, is a city in southeastern Minnesota. Its population of over 120,000 makes it the state's third-largest city. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 122,694, Rochester has a total crime rate of 1,522.5 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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