The Best Home Security Systems in San Diego, CA

Are you looking for the best home security systems in San Diego, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed San Diego, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why

A property crime is committed in San Diego every 2 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. San Diego experiences 77.44 property crimes per 1000 people and 24.97 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.

Home Security Companies Available in San Diego, CA

Best Overall

Simplisafe
Simplisafe Logo

We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of San Diego. The combination of a high amount of renters (43%) and education level (38% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.

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Best Reputation

ADT
ADT Logo

Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.

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Affordable Option

Ring
Ring Logo

Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.

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Do You Need a Home Security System in San Diego, CA?

Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in San Diego, CA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.

Why Crime Grade?

Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about San Diego, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.

Property Crime in San Diego, CA

Our analysis gives San Diego a property crime grade of: F. San Diego is in the 97th percentile of safety, meaning 97% of cities in California are safer and 3% are more dangerous. Please visit our San Diego crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.

San Diego, CA Map of Rates

Crime Grades

A+
C
F
A+ (dark green) areas are safest

Property crime is highest in the western part of San Diego, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 2. Compare this to the northwestern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 76.

Fact

A crime occurs every 1 minute (on average) in San Diego, CA.

300%

Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.

So, is San Diego safe? Compared to all of California, San Diego is rated less safe than the average California city, which has a property crime rate of 37.66 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a similar pattern, where San Diego, with its burglary rate of 5.279 per 1000, is as safe as the average California city.

In addition, San Diego is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in San Diego, CA.

Crime Type
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents)
Avg Number of Crimes per year in San Diego, CA
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week
Theft
67.73
224,417
4,315.7
Vehicle Theft
3.989
13,216
254.1
Burglary
5.279
17,493
336.4
Arson
0.4429
1,468
28.2

Weather and Climate in San Diego, CA

As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.

Home Security Fire Sensors in San Diego, CA

Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in San Diego, CA is 63.40 degrees, reaching 86.62 degrees in the hottest months like August & September. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 83.46 degrees in August.

Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in San Diego was built in 1981, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in California build in 1977.

Between colder seasonal temperatures and average home ages in San Diego, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.

Home Security Flood Sensors in San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA gets an average rainfall of 0.2" per year. This is similar to the average of 0.2" for California.

With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.

Home Security Freeze Sensors in San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA reaches an average of 67.46 degrees in its cold months of December & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 62.87 degrees in December.

The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in San Diego is 42 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average California home that's 46 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.

Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your San Diego home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.

Cost of Home Security Systems in San Diego, CA

To identify the final cost of a home security system for your San Diego home, we must determine some of your preferences.

Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?

Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 42.82% (1,412,403) of people in San Diego, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 57.18% or 1,886,231 of San Diego residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.

Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 78% of people who commute an average of 32 minutes to work in or around San Diego, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?

If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.

Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation

Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 8% of San Diego residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.

Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.

Residents of San Diego tend to have a higher median household income than nearby cities, earning $96,264 annually. In addition, 37.7% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.

If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in San Diego is $623,178. Compared to the median home value in California of $648,235, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.

Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.

Police Stations Near San Diego, CA

There are 389 police stations within the boundaries of San Diego, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the San Diego center, there are 94 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in San Diego may be about average. When response times are fairly typical, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.

San Diego County Sheriff
9621 Richhaven Court
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 974-2250
San Diego Police Department
9265 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 495-7800
San Diego Police Department
9225 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 495-7900

Safest Neighborhoods in San Diego, CA

According to our analysis, here are the safest neighborhoods in San Diego.

Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near San Diego, CA

Nearby City
Property Crime Grade
Overall Crime Grade
Safer than San Diego, CA?
La Mesa, CACC+more safe
Lemon Grove, CAB-Bmore safe
La Jolla, CAFFabout as safe
Coronado, CAFFabout as safe
National City, CADDmore safe
Santee, CABAmore safe
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CABA-more safe
Spring Valley, CAA-A-more safe
La Presa, CAB+Amore safe
Bostonia, CAD+C-more safe

Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to San Diego, CA

Nearby City
Property Crime Grade
Overall Crime Grade
Safer than San Diego, CA?
Denver, COFFabout as safe
Tampa, FLCCmore safe
Minneapolis, MNDD+more safe
Baltimore, MDD-D-more safe
St. Louis, MOD-D-more safe
Orlando, FLC-Cmore safe
Seattle, WAD+D-more safe
Charlotte, NCDDmore safe
San Antonio, TXD+C-more safe
Portland, ORC-C-more safe

Summarizing Home Security Considerations in San Diego, CA

Deciding whether you need a home security system in San Diego, CA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of San Diego residents.

Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.

Simplisafe, ADT, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for San Diego residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as San Diego's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.

Property Crime Insights

  • A property crime occurs approximately every 2 minutes in San Diego.
  • The city experiences 77.44 property crimes and 24.97 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
  • San Diego's property crime grade stands at an 'F', comparably less safe than other California {{place_type__plural_lower}}.

Noteworthy Security Companies

  • Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of San Diego. The combination of a high amount of renters (43%) and education level (38% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
  • ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
  • Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.

Climate Considerations for Security

  • Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 86.62 degrees in the peak months of August & September.
  • Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with December & February temperatures averaging 67.46 degrees.
  • Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.2" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 42 years.

Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation

  • 42.82% of San Diego residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
  • Given the 78% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
  • Considering San Diego's higher household median income of $96,264 and 37.7% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.

Local Police Presence

  • San Diego hosts 389 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.