Is San Diego or St. Charles Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Charles is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 68/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,156 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 44% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where St. Charles has a 92% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 42.7x 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
St. Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
St. Charles, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | St. Charles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 1,155.9 | +926.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 92.2 | +320.2 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 3.1 | -0.6 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 40.0 | -18.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 6.2 | +71.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 43.0 | +267.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 1,063.7 | +606.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 129.1 | +58.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 916.1 | +171.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 18.5 | +377.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or St. Charles safer?
St. Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 1,156 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 44% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while St. Charles has 92.2. St. Charles 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 St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, a Fox River community west of Chicago, was once known as the "Electric City" for its early adoption of electricity. This affluent Kendall County suburb is home to roughly 33,000 residents. With a safety score of 68/100 and a population coverage of 32,529, St. Charles has a total crime rate of 1,155.9 per 100,000 residents.