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San Francisco vs Santa Monica Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: San Francisco crime rate · Santa Monica crime rate

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Is San Francisco or Santa Monica Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Francisco is safer than Santa Monica (Safety Score 6/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,526 per 100,000 versus 5,573 for Santa Monica — 19% lower. San Francisco has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Santa Monica has a 24% lower rate.

Note: San Francisco is 9.0x 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

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Santa Monica — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 802,856
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6
Category Wins 5/7

Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica, CA
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 88,948
Total Crime Rate 5,572.9
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Francisco Santa Monica Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6 5,572.9 -1,047.3
Violent Crime Rate 596.5 782.5 -186.0
Murder Rate 4.4 4.5 -0.1
Rape Rate 34.9 72.0 -37.1
Robbery Rate 267.2 202.4 +64.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 290.1 499.2 -209.1
Property Crime Rate 3,929.1 4,790.4 -861.3
Burglary Rate 637.5 848.8 -211.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,618.9 3,382.9 -764.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 672.7 558.8 +114.0

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from San Francisco, CA to Santa Monica, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco or Santa Monica safer?

San Francisco is safer with a total crime rate of 4,526 per 100K vs 5,573 for Santa Monica — a 19% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while Santa Monica has 782.5. 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 Monica, CA

Santa Monica, a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, is known for its iconic pier and vibrant tourism. Its beaches and Pacific Ocean proximity draw a diverse population, including many young professionals and families. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 88,948, Santa Monica has a total crime rate of 5,572.9 per 100,000 residents.

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