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San Diego vs Waterbury Crime Comparison

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

Full report: San Diego crime rate · Waterbury crime rate

Moving from San Diego, CA to Waterbury, CT?

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Is San Diego or Waterbury Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego is safer than Waterbury (Safety Score 38/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 3,241 for Waterbury — 36% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 64% lower rate.

Note: San Diego is 12.0x 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

Waterbury — 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

Waterbury, CT

Waterbury, CT
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 115,363
Total Crime Rate 3,241.1
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Diego Waterbury Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,082.4 3,241.1 -1,158.7
Violent Crime Rate 412.4 322.5 +89.9
Murder Rate 2.5 6.9 -4.4
Rape Rate 21.4 44.2 -22.8
Robbery Rate 77.4 104.9 -27.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 310.9 166.4 +144.5
Property Crime Rate 1,670.0 2,918.6 -1,248.6
Burglary Rate 187.4 229.7 -42.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,087.1 2,054.4 -967.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 395.5 634.5 -239.0

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

Moving from San Diego, CA to Waterbury, CT?

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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego or Waterbury safer?

San Diego is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 3,241 for Waterbury — a 36% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Waterbury has 322.5. Waterbury 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 Waterbury, CT

Waterbury, once a brass manufacturing hub, is a city in New Haven County. Situated on the Naugatuck River, it's home to a diverse population and distinct neighborhoods. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 115,363, Waterbury has a total crime rate of 3,241.1 per 100,000 residents.

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