Moving from San Diego, CA to Wilmington, NC?
An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is San Diego, CA or Wilmington, NC Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Diego, CA is safer than Wilmington, NC (Safety Score 38/100 vs 9/100), with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 versus 4,000 for Wilmington, NC — 48% lower. San Diego has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Diego has a 55% lower rate.
Note: San Diego is 11.1x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than San Diego, CA?
San Diego — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Wilmington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Diego, CA
Wilmington, NC
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Diego | Wilmington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,082.4 | 4,000.0 | -1,917.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 412.4 | 485.2 | -72.8 |
| Murder Rate | 2.5 | 5.6 | -3.1 |
| Rape Rate | 21.4 | 45.6 | -24.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 72.7 | +4.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 310.9 | 358.9 | -48.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,670.0 | 3,514.8 | -1,844.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 187.4 | 361.3 | -173.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,087.1 | 2,841.7 | -1,754.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.5 | 311.8 | +83.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Diego, CA to Wilmington, NC?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Diego or Wilmington safer?
San Diego, CA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,082 per 100K vs 4,000 for Wilmington, NC — a 48% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Diego has a violent crime rate of 412.4 per 100K while Wilmington has 485.2. San Diego 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 Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, a port city in southeastern North Carolina, is known for its historic downtown Riverwalk and as a major film production hub. Situated along the Cape Fear River, it's the county seat of New Hanover County. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 125,101, Wilmington has a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents.