Is Salt Lake City or San Diego Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, San Diego is safer than Salt Lake City (Safety Score 38/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 6,064 for Salt Lake City — 66% lower. Salt Lake City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where San Diego has a 68% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 6.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Salt Lake City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salt Lake City, UT
San Diego, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salt Lake City | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,064.2 | 2,082.4 | +3,981.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 864.2 | 412.4 | +451.9 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 2.5 | +2.7 |
| Rape Rate | 158.5 | 21.4 | +137.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 183.4 | 77.4 | +106.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 517.2 | 310.9 | +206.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,200.0 | 1,670.0 | +3,529.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 551.1 | 187.4 | +363.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 4,184.8 | 1,087.1 | +3,097.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 464.1 | 395.5 | +68.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salt Lake City or San Diego safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 6,064 for Salt Lake City — a 66% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salt Lake City has a violent crime rate of 864.2 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.
About Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, founded by Brigham Young, serves as the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nestled against the Wasatch Mountains, it is Utah's most populous city with a diverse and growing tech industry. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 212,675, Salt Lake City has a total crime rate of 6,064.2 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.