Moving from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Santa Cruz (Safety Score 38/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,128 for Santa Cruz — 33% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 48% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 22.6x 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 Diego, CA?
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Cruz — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Santa Cruz | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 3,128.2 | -1,045.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 612.9 | -200.5 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 4.9 | -2.4 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 42.4 | -21.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 102.7 | -25.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 463.0 | -152.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 2,515.2 | -845.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 135.3 | +52.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 2,221.8 | -1,134.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 158.1 | +237.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Diego, CA to Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,128 for Santa Cruz — a 33% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Santa Cruz has 612.9. San Diego 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 Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, California, a coastal city known for its historic Beach Boardwalk, sits on Monterey Bay. It's home to a significant student population, including the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 61,346, Santa Cruz has a total crime rate of 3,128.2 per 100,000 residents.