Moving from San Francisco, CA to San Mateo, 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 Mateo Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Mateo is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 37/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,127 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 53% lower. San Francisco has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where San Mateo has a 72% lower rate.
Note: San Francisco is 8.0x 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 Mateo — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Francisco, CA
San Mateo, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Francisco | San Mateo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,525.6 | 2,126.5 | +2,399.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 596.5 | 243.2 | +353.3 |
| Murder Rate | 4.4 | 5.0 | -0.6 |
| Rape Rate | 34.9 | 26.0 | +8.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 267.2 | 74.1 | +193.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 290.1 | 138.1 | +152.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,929.1 | 1,883.3 | +2,045.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 637.5 | 98.1 | +539.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,618.9 | 1,578.1 | +1,040.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 672.7 | 207.2 | +465.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Francisco, CA to San Mateo, 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 Mateo safer?
San Mateo is safer with a total crime rate of 2,127 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 53% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while San Mateo has 243.2. San Mateo 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 Mateo, CA
San Mateo, a city on the San Francisco Peninsula, was once home to the historic Borel Estate. Its diverse population of around 105,000 resides amidst a mix of urban and suburban landscapes. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 99,929, San Mateo has a total crime rate of 2,126.5 per 100,000 residents.