Moving from San Diego, CA to Santa Clara, 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.
Is San Diego or Santa Clara Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Santa Clara (Safety Score 38/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,684 for Santa Clara — 22% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Santa Clara has a 56% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 10.5x 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 San Diego, CA?
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Clara — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Santa Clara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 2,683.8 | -601.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 182.0 | +230.4 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 1.5 | +1.0 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 19.7 | +1.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 57.6 | +19.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 103.1 | +207.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 2,501.9 | -831.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 337.4 | -150.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 1,771.0 | -683.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 393.5 | +2.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Diego, CA to Santa Clara, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Santa Clara safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,684 for Santa Clara — a 22% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Santa Clara has 182.0. Santa Clara has lower violent crime.
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.
About Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara, home to Levi's Stadium, is a Silicon Valley city in Santa Clara County. It's a key tech hub with a diverse, educated population and a significant presence of professionals in the STEM fields. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 131,901, Santa Clara has a total crime rate of 2,683.8 per 100,000 residents.