Moving from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Santa Barbara is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 29/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,459 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 46% lower. San Francisco has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Barbara has a 100% lower rate.
Note: San Francisco is 9.4x 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
Santa Barbara — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Francisco, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Francisco | Santa Barbara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,525.6 | 2,459.3 | +2,066.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 596.5 | 649.5 | -53.0 |
| Murder Rate | 4.4 | 0.0 | +4.4 |
| Rape Rate | 34.9 | 82.8 | -47.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 267.2 | 74.6 | +192.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 290.1 | 490.9 | -200.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,929.1 | 1,809.7 | +2,119.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 637.5 | 170.3 | +467.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,618.9 | 1,441.3 | +1,177.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 672.7 | 198.2 | +474.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara safer?
Santa Barbara is safer with a total crime rate of 2,459 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 46% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while Santa Barbara has 649.5. San Francisco 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 Santa Barbara, CA
Nestled between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara boasts Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and a Mediterranean climate. This affluent coastal city, home to UCSB, attracts tourists and residents alike with its scenic beauty. With a safety score of 29/100 and a population coverage of 85,758, Santa Barbara has a total crime rate of 2,459.3 per 100,000 residents.