Is San Diego or Santa Fe Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Santa Fe is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 81/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 820 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 61% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Fe has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 106.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Fe — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Santa Fe, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Santa Fe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 819.6 | +1,262.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 84.3 | +328.1 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 0.0 | +2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 7.7 | +13.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 0.0 | +77.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 76.6 | +234.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 735.4 | +934.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 237.5 | -50.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 406.0 | +681.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 91.9 | +303.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Santa Fe safer?
Santa Fe is safer with a total crime rate of 820 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 61% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Santa Fe has 84.3. Santa Fe 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 Fe, TX
Santa Fe, Texas, a community just south of Houston, was named for its railroad connection to Galveston. This small city, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. With a safety score of 81/100 and a population coverage of 13,055, Santa Fe has a total crime rate of 819.6 per 100,000 residents.