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San Diego vs South San Francisco Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Diego crime rate · South San Francisco crime rate

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Is San Diego or South San Francisco Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, South San Francisco is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 45/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,859 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 11% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: San Diego is 22.3x 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 San Francisco — 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 1/7

South San Francisco, CA

South San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 45/100
Coverage 62,229
Total Crime Rate 1,859.3
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego South San Francisco Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 1,859.3 +223.1
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 300.5 +111.9
Murder Rate 2.5 0.0 +2.5
Rape Rate 21.4 22.5 -1.1
Robbery Rate 77.4 35.4 +42.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 242.7 +68.3
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 1,558.8 +111.3
Burglary Rate 187.4 102.9 +84.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 1,107.2 -20.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 348.7 +46.8

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

Moving from San Diego, CA to South San Francisco, 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 San Francisco safer?

South San Francisco is safer with a total crime rate of 1,859 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 11% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while South San Francisco has 300.5. South San Francisco 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 San Francisco, CA

South San Francisco, once "The Industrial City," is a diverse Bay Area city located just north of San Francisco International Airport. Its waterfront location and proximity to major biotech firms define much of its character. With a safety score of 45/100 and a population coverage of 62,229, South San Francisco has a total crime rate of 1,859.3 per 100,000 residents.

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