Is San Diego or Sweetwater Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Sweetwater is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 52/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,631 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 22% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 87% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 136.4x 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
Sweetwater — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Sweetwater, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Sweetwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 1,630.7 | +451.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 510.8 | -98.4 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 19.7 | -17.1 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 117.9 | -96.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 49.1 | +28.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 314.3 | -3.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 1,119.8 | +550.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 265.2 | -77.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 756.4 | +330.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 98.2 | +297.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Sweetwater safer?
Sweetwater is safer with a total crime rate of 1,631 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 22% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Sweetwater has 510.8. San Diego 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 Sweetwater, TX
Sweetwater, Texas, in Nolan County, is a West Texas city historically known for its rattlesnake roundups. It's a small community situated along I-20, with a population of around 10,000 residents. With a safety score of 52/100 and a population coverage of 10,180, Sweetwater has a total crime rate of 1,630.7 per 100,000 residents.