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Rochester, NY 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, NY to San Diego, CA?

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Is Rochester, NY or San Diego, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Rochester, NY (Safety Score 38/100 vs 9/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,872 for Rochester, NY — 46% lower. Rochester has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 81% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 6.7x 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 Rochester, NY?

Rochester — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Rochester, NY

Rochester, NY
Safety Score 9/100
Coverage 206,093
Total Crime Rate 3,871.6
Category Wins 0/7

San Diego, CA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Rochester San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,871.6 2,082.4 +1,789.2
Violent Crime Rate 582.3 412.4 +169.9
Murder Rate 13.1 2.5 +10.6
Rape Rate 18.4 21.4 -2.9
Robbery Rate 153.3 77.4 +75.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 397.4 310.9 +86.5
Property Crime Rate 3,289.3 1,670.0 +1,619.3
Burglary Rate 404.7 187.4 +217.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,795.8 1,087.1 +708.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,088.8 395.5 +693.3

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

Moving from Rochester, NY 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?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,872 for Rochester, NY — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 582.3 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About Rochester, NY

Rochester, NY, a city along Lake Ontario's southern shore, was once the "Flour City" due to its milling industry on the Genesee River. It's home to a diverse population of just over 200,000 residents. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 206,093, Rochester has a total crime rate of 3,871.6 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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