Moving from San Diego, CA to Thornton, CO?
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 Thornton Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Thornton (Safety Score 38/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,114 for Thornton — 33% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Thornton has a 46% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 9.5x 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
Thornton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Thornton, CO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Thornton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 3,114.2 | -1,031.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 278.4 | +134.0 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 1.4 | +1.2 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 79.5 | -58.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 49.4 | +28.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 143.3 | +167.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 2,835.9 | -1,165.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 277.0 | -89.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 2,067.9 | -980.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 490.9 | -95.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Diego, CA to Thornton, CO?
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 Thornton safer?
San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,114 for Thornton — a 33% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Thornton has 278.4. Thornton 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 Thornton, CO
Thornton, a northern Denver suburb, began as a post-WWII housing boom community. It spans parts of Adams and Weld counties, with a diverse, family-oriented population. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 145,847, Thornton has a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents.