Share

San Diego, CA vs Selma, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Diego crime rate · Selma crime rate

Moving from San Diego, CA to Selma, AL?

An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is San Diego, CA or Selma, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Selma, AL (Safety Score 38/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,092 for Selma, AL — 33% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 79% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 85.2x 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 SAFER than San Diego, CA?

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Selma — 3-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 5/7

Selma, AL

Selma, AL
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 16,299
Total Crime Rate 3,092.2
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego Selma Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 3,092.2 -1,009.8
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 619.7 -207.3
Murder Rate 2.5 12.3 -9.8
Rape Rate 21.4 18.4 +3.0
Robbery Rate 77.4 30.7 +46.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 558.3 -247.4
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 2,472.5 -802.5
Burglary Rate 187.4 552.2 -364.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 1,754.7 -667.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 165.7 +229.9

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

Moving from San Diego, CA to Selma, AL?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego or Selma safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,092 for Selma, AL — a 33% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Selma has 619.7. 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 Selma, AL

Selma, Alabama, a city on the Alabama River, is famous for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. This historic city in Dallas County has a predominantly African American population. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 16,299, Selma has a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons