Moving from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is San Francisco or San Luis Obispo Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Luis Obispo is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 18/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,093 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 32% lower. San Francisco has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Luis Obispo has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Francisco is 16.1x 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 Francisco, CA?
San Francisco — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Luis Obispo — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Francisco, CA
San Luis Obispo, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Francisco | San Luis Obispo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,525.6 | 3,093.2 | +1,432.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 596.5 | 424.4 | +172.1 |
| Murder Rate | 4.4 | 0.0 | +4.4 |
| Rape Rate | 34.9 | 60.1 | -25.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 267.2 | 82.1 | +185.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 290.1 | 282.3 | +7.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,929.1 | 2,668.8 | +1,260.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 637.5 | 322.3 | +315.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,618.9 | 2,196.3 | +422.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 672.7 | 150.2 | +522.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Francisco, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco or San Luis Obispo safer?
San Luis Obispo is safer with a total crime rate of 3,093 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 32% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while San Luis Obispo has 424.4. San Luis Obispo has lower violent crime.
About San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, a vibrant Northern California port city renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spans a hilly peninsula. Home to a diverse population of nearly 850,000, it was a pivotal center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 802,856, San Francisco has a total crime rate of 4,525.6 per 100,000 residents.
About San Luis Obispo, CA
Nestled in California's Central Coast, San Luis Obispo is home to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772. This city of roughly 47,000 residents boasts a vibrant downtown and is surrounded by rolling hills. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 49,948, San Luis Obispo has a total crime rate of 3,093.2 per 100,000 residents.