Is San Diego or South St. Paul Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, South St. Paul is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 51/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,671 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 20% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where South St. Paul has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 67.3x 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
South St. Paul — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
South St. Paul, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | South St. Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 1,670.9 | +411.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 348.7 | +63.7 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 0.0 | +2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 33.9 | -12.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 14.5 | +62.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 300.3 | +10.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 1,322.2 | +347.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 145.3 | +42.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 1,017.1 | +70.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 159.8 | +235.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or South St. Paul safer?
South St. Paul is safer with a total crime rate of 1,671 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 20% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while South St. Paul has 348.7. South St. Paul 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 St. Paul, MN
South St. Paul, once the "Cow Capital of the World," sits along the Mississippi River. This working-class city in Dakota County has a population of around 20,000. With a safety score of 51/100 and a population coverage of 20,648, South St. Paul has a total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 residents.