Is San Diego or Washington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Washington is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 56/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 28% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Washington has a 92% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 88.4x 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
Washington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Washington, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 1,496.2 | +586.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 254.7 | +157.7 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 6.4 | -3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 44.6 | -23.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 6.4 | +71.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 197.4 | +113.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 1,241.5 | +428.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 76.4 | +111.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 1,069.6 | +17.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 95.5 | +300.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Washington safer?
Washington is safer with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 28% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Washington has 254.7. Washington 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 Washington, MO
Washington, Missouri, known for its historic German heritage and the Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Pipe Company, is a city in Franklin County along the Missouri River. Its population was estimated at 14,932 in 2022. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 15,707, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,496.2 per 100,000 residents.