Crime per Capita in San Diego
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in San Diego.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
D+
Overall Crime Grade™
D+ |
|
D |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B+ |
$1.5 billion
Cost of Crime™ for San Diego, CA
In 2025, crime will cost $1,291 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in the San Diego area in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is San Diego, CA Safe?
The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. San Diego ranks in the 29th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 29% of cities but less safe than 71%. This analysis applies only to the San Diego area's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The crime rate in the San Diego area is 32.18 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. the San Diego area Residents generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in the San Diego area varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 23 in the south neighborhoods to 1 in 45 in the northeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of San Diego, CA see the most incidents - about 24,236 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 2,855 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in San Diego, CA
The total projected cost of crime in San Diego for 2025 is $1,493,824,879. This translates to approximately $449 per resident and $1,291 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.9% of the median household income in San Diego. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 54.7%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.4%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.8%
How Much Does Crime Cost in San Diego Compared to Other Cities?
| San Diego, CA: | $449 |
|---|---|
| Lodi, CA: | $1387 |
| Rescue, CA: | $213 |
| California: | $491 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in San Diego is $449 per year, which is $15 less than the national average and $42 less than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to San Diego:
- In Lodi, CA, crime costs $1,387 per person, which is $938 more than in San Diego.
- In Rescue, CA, crime costs $213 per person, which is $236 less than in San Diego
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of San Diego for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to San Diego |
Cost per San Diego Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$272.8 million |
$82 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$95.1 million |
$29 |
Robbery |
$116.2 million |
$35 |
Assault |
$261.3 million |
$79 |
Kidnapping |
$21.1 million |
$6 |
Vehicle Theft |
$234.8 million |
$71 |
Burglary |
$104.0 million |
$31 |
Theft |
$252.4 million |
$76 |
Arson |
$18.9 million |
$6 |
Vandalism |
$54.7 million |
$16 |
Animal Cruelty |
$653,470 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$51.4 million |
$15 |
Identity Theft |
$10.6 million |
$3 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$1,493,824,879 |
$449 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in San Diego, CA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in San Diego totals $2,397,673,358 ($721 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $3,891,498,237 ($1,170 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the the San Diego area crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the northwest part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which the San Diego area has 1, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which the San Diego area has 247, have the same problem. Of the San Diego area’s 3,327,032 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in San Diego, CA at ISP Reports.San Diego Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 San Diego residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.734 |
Robbery |
1.111 |
Rape |
0.4713 |
Murder |
0.0436 |
Total Violent Crime |
4.360 (D+) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
14.65 |
Vehicle Theft |
4.557 |
Burglary |
3.445 |
Arson |
0.2353 |
Total Property Crime |
22.89 (D) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1045 |
Drug Crimes |
2.089 |
Vandalism |
2.303 |
Identity Theft |
0.4103 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0266 |
Total "Other" Rate |
4.934 (B+) |
Individual San Diego Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in the San Diego area is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to the San Diego area.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D | D | D- | |
D | D | D- | |
D | D | D- | |
F | F | F | |
D- | D- | F | |
C+ | C | C- | |
D+ | D+ | D | |
C | C- | D+ | |
C | C- | D+ | |
D+ | D+ | D |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
San Diego is lower versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.
Similar City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D- | D | D | |
A- | B | B | |
D+ | C | C | |
D | D | D | |
D- | D | D | |
A- | B | B | |
D- | D+ | D+ | |
D | D+ | D+ | |
D | C- | C- | |
D- | C | C |
Considering only the crime rate, the San Diego area is as safe as the California state average and as safe as the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in San Diego, CA average SchoolGrade of C, with 35% actual proficiency versus 37% projected; overall, schools don't meet expectations. See San Diego schools on SchoolGrade
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