San Francisco vs Washington Metropolitan Crime Comparison
Is San Francisco or Washington Metropolitan Safer?
Washington Metropolitan is the safer city, with a total crime rate 0% lower than San Francisco based on 2024 FBI data. San Francisco has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where San Francisco has a 83% lower rate.
San Francisco, CA
Safety Score
17/100
Population
802,856
Total Crime Rate
4,525.6
Category Wins
4/7
Washington Metropolitan, DC
Safety Score
17/100
Population
702,250
Total Crime Rate
4,513.9
Category Wins
3/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | San Francisco | Washington Metropolitan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,525.6 | 4,513.9 | +11.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 596.5 | 925.9 | -329.4 |
| Murder Rate | 4.4 | 25.5 | -21.1 |
| Rape Rate | 34.9 | 34.0 | +0.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 267.2 | 438.6 | -171.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 290.1 | 427.8 | -137.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,929.1 | 3,588.0 | +341.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 637.5 | 238.0 | +399.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,618.9 | 2,594.5 | +24.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 672.7 | 755.6 | -82.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco or Washington Metropolitan safer?
Washington Metropolitan is safer with a total crime rate of 4,514 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while Washington Metropolitan has 925.9. San Francisco has lower violent crime.