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San Diego vs Shelby Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Diego crime rate · Shelby crime rate

Moving from San Diego, CA to Shelby, NC?

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Is San Diego or Shelby Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Shelby (Safety Score 38/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,477 for Shelby — 40% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 89% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 63.1x 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

Shelby — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat 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

Shelby, NC

Shelby, NC
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 22,028
Total Crime Rate 3,477.4
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego Shelby Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 3,477.4 -1,395.0
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 1,044.1 -631.8
Murder Rate 2.5 22.7 -20.2
Rape Rate 21.4 49.9 -28.6
Robbery Rate 77.4 77.2 +0.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 894.3 -583.4
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 2,433.3 -763.3
Burglary Rate 187.4 485.8 -298.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 1,716.0 -628.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 231.5 +164.0

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

Moving from San Diego, CA to Shelby, NC?

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 Shelby safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,477 for Shelby — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Shelby has 1,044.1. 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 Shelby, NC

Shelby, NC, a foothills city in Cleveland County, is home to the Earl Scruggs Center celebrating the bluegrass legend. Its population is approximately 20,000. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 22,028, Shelby has a total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 residents.

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