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San Diego vs South Lake Tahoe Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Diego crime rate · South Lake Tahoe crime rate

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Is San Diego or South Lake Tahoe Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than South Lake Tahoe (Safety Score 38/100 vs 34/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,266 for South Lake Tahoe — 8% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where South Lake Tahoe has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 66.1x 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

South Lake Tahoe — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 3/7

South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, CA
Safety Score 34/100
Coverage 21,005
Total Crime Rate 2,266.1
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego South Lake Tahoe Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 2,266.1 -183.7
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 804.6 -392.2
Murder Rate 2.5 0.0 +2.5
Rape Rate 21.4 61.9 -40.5
Robbery Rate 77.4 42.9 +34.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 680.8 -369.9
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 1,461.6 +208.5
Burglary Rate 187.4 190.4 -3.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 1,161.6 -74.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 109.5 +286.0

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

Moving from San Diego, CA to South Lake Tahoe, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego or South Lake Tahoe safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,266 for South Lake Tahoe — a 8% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while South Lake Tahoe has 804.6. 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 South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, California, is a resort city on the Sierra Nevada's eastern slope, renowned for its casinos and Heavenly Mountain Resort. Its pristine alpine lake attracts millions of visitors annually. With a safety score of 34/100 and a population coverage of 21,005, South Lake Tahoe has a total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 residents.

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