Is San Diego or Vestavia Hills Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Vestavia Hills is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 84/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 728 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 65% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Vestavia Hills has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 36.9x 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
Vestavia Hills — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Vestavia Hills, AL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Vestavia Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 727.6 | +1,354.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 82.3 | +330.1 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 0.0 | +2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 15.9 | +5.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 0.0 | +77.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 66.4 | +244.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 645.3 | +1,024.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 63.7 | +123.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 533.8 | +553.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 47.8 | +347.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Vestavia Hills safer?
Vestavia Hills is safer with a total crime rate of 728 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 65% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Vestavia Hills has 82.3. Vestavia Hills 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 Vestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills, an affluent Birmingham suburb, grew significantly after WWII. It's known for its Vestavia Temple replica and sits atop Shades Mountain, primarily home to well-educated professionals. With a safety score of 84/100 and a population coverage of 37,658, Vestavia Hills has a total crime rate of 727.6 per 100,000 residents.