Moving from San Diego, CA to Surprise, AZ?
An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is San Diego or Surprise Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Surprise is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 75/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 985 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 53% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Surprise has a 86% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 8.5x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than San Diego, CA?
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Surprise — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Surprise, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 984.7 | +1,097.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 109.1 | +303.3 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 7.4 | -4.8 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 16.5 | +4.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 11.0 | +66.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 74.1 | +236.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 875.6 | +794.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 94.4 | +93.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 682.0 | +405.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 99.3 | +296.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Diego, CA to Surprise, AZ?
An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Surprise safer?
Surprise is safer with a total crime rate of 985 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 53% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Surprise has 109.1. Surprise 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 Surprise, AZ
Surprise, Arizona, once a small farming community founded in 1938, is now a rapidly growing city in the Sonoran Desert. Located northwest of Phoenix, it's home to a significant population of retirees and families. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 163,202, Surprise has a total crime rate of 984.7 per 100,000 residents.