Is San Diego or Waukesha Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Waukesha is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 75/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 990 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 52% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Waukesha has a 91% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 19.8x 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
Waukesha — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Waukesha, WI
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Waukesha | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 990.0 | +1,092.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 115.4 | +297.0 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 1.4 | +1.1 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 28.5 | -7.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 7.1 | +70.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 76.9 | +234.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 874.6 | +795.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 51.3 | +136.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 767.8 | +319.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 55.6 | +340.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Waukesha safer?
Waukesha is safer with a total crime rate of 990 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 52% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Waukesha has 115.4. Waukesha 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 Waukesha, WI
Waukesha, once known as "Spa City" for its spring waters, is a city in southeastern Wisconsin. It serves as the county seat and is home to Carroll University. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 70,202, Waukesha has a total crime rate of 990.0 per 100,000 residents.