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San Bernardino vs San Diego Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Bernardino crime rate · San Diego crime rate

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Is San Bernardino or San Diego Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than San Bernardino (Safety Score 38/100 vs 10/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,795 for San Bernardino — 45% lower. San Bernardino has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 77% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 6.2x 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 San Bernardino, CA?

San Bernardino — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino, CA
Safety Score 10/100
Coverage 224,283
Total Crime Rate 3,794.8
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 San Bernardino San Diego Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,794.8 2,082.4 +1,712.4
Violent Crime Rate 897.1 412.4 +484.7
Murder Rate 11.2 2.5 +8.6
Rape Rate 49.9 21.4 +28.6
Robbery Rate 241.2 77.4 +163.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 594.8 310.9 +283.8
Property Crime Rate 2,897.7 1,670.0 +1,227.7
Burglary Rate 455.2 187.4 +267.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,677.4 1,087.1 +590.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 765.1 395.5 +369.6

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

Moving from San Bernardino, CA to San Diego, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Bernardino or San Diego safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,795 for San Bernardino — a 45% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Bernardino has a violent crime rate of 897.1 per 100K while San Diego has 412.4. San Diego has lower violent crime.

About San Bernardino, CA

Nestled in the Inland Empire, San Bernardino is a diverse city historically linked to the Santa Fe Railroad. Its population of over 200,000 residents enjoys views of the San Bernardino Mountains. With a safety score of 10/100 and a population coverage of 224,283, San Bernardino has a total crime rate of 3,794.8 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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