Is San Diego or Wheeling Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Wheeling is safer than San Diego (Safety Score 76/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 972 per 100,000 versus 2,082 for San Diego — 53% lower. San Diego has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wheeling has a 86% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 37.3x 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
Wheeling — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Wheeling, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Wheeling | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 971.8 | +1,110.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 64.4 | +348.0 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 2.7 | -0.2 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 29.5 | -8.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 10.7 | +66.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 18.8 | +292.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 907.4 | +762.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 217.4 | -30.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 585.2 | +501.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 104.7 | +290.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Wheeling safer?
Wheeling is safer with a total crime rate of 972 per 100K vs 2,082 for San Diego — a 53% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Wheeling has 64.4. Wheeling 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 Wheeling, IL
Wheeling, Illinois, once home to a significant German immigrant population, is a village in Cook and Lake counties. Situated about 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. With a safety score of 76/100 and a population coverage of 37,251, Wheeling has a total crime rate of 971.8 per 100,000 residents.