Is San Diego or Wheaton Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Wheaton is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 89/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 593 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 72% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Wheaton has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 26.4x 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
Wheaton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Wheaton, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Wheaton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 592.6 | +1,489.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 51.3 | +361.1 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 0.0 | +2.5 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 26.6 | -5.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 5.7 | +71.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 17.1 | +293.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 541.3 | +1,128.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 93.1 | +94.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 425.5 | +661.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 22.8 | +372.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Wheaton safer?
Wheaton is safer with a total crime rate of 593 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 72% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Wheaton has 51.3. Wheaton 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 Wheaton, IL
Wheaton, a DuPage County seat, is a western suburb of Chicago known for Wheaton College. Its affluent, educated population enjoys a mix of historic homes and modern developments. With a safety score of 89/100 and a population coverage of 52,649, Wheaton has a total crime rate of 592.6 per 100,000 residents.