Is San Diego or St. Helens Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Helens is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 66/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 43% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where St. Helens has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 95.0x 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. Helens — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
St. Helens, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | St. Helens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 1,197.3 | +885.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 273.7 | +138.7 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 0.0 | +2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 34.2 | -12.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 6.8 | +70.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 232.6 | +78.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 923.7 | +746.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 218.9 | -31.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 636.3 | +450.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 68.4 | +327.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or St. Helens safer?
St. Helens is safer with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 43% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while St. Helens has 273.7. St. Helens 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. Helens, OR
St. Helens, Oregon, a port city on the Columbia River, is known for its historic downtown and as the filming location for "Halloweentown." It's the county seat of Columbia County, with a population of around 14,000. With a safety score of 66/100 and a population coverage of 14,616, St. Helens has a total crime rate of 1,197.3 per 100,000 residents.