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San Diego, CA vs Union City, CA Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: San Diego crime rate · Union City crime rate

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Is San Diego, CA or Union City, CA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Union City, CA (Safety Score 38/100 vs 26/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 2,643 for Union City, CA — 21% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where San Diego has a 36% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 21.7x 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 SAFER than San Diego, CA?

San Diego — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Union City — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 1,389,024
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4
Category Wins 6/7

Union City, CA

Union City, CA
Safety Score 26/100
Coverage 63,976
Total Crime Rate 2,643.2
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego Union City Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 2,643.2 -560.8
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 408.0 +4.4
Murder Rate 2.5 3.1 -0.6
Rape Rate 21.4 17.2 +4.2
Robbery Rate 77.4 120.4 -43.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 267.3 +43.7
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 2,235.2 -565.2
Burglary Rate 187.4 292.3 -104.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 1,269.2 -182.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 673.7 -278.2

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from San Diego, CA to Union City, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego or Union City safer?

San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 2,643 for Union City, CA — a 21% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Union City has 408.0. Union City 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 Union City, CA

Union City, California, a diverse East Bay city, was formed by the merger of Alvarado and Decoto. It's home to a significant Filipino American population and offers views of the San Francisco Bay. With a safety score of 26/100 and a population coverage of 63,976, Union City has a total crime rate of 2,643.2 per 100,000 residents.

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