The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA: Crime Maps and Statistics

B-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	B-
Property Crime Grade	C+
Other Crime Grade	A-

Which crimes are included?

$14.0 million

Cost of Crime™ for Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA

In 2025, crime will cost $1,024 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Serra Mesa 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 Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA Safe?

The B- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US neighborhood. Serra Mesa ranks in the 61st percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 61% of neighborhoods but less safe than 39%. This analysis applies only to Serra Mesa's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby neighborhoods.

The crime rate in Serra Mesa is 31.17 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Serra Mesa Residents generally consider the northwest part of the neighborhood to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Serra Mesa varies by area - ranging from 1 in 16 in the southeast areas to 1 in 42 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the east parts of Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA see the most incidents - about 186 per year. In contrast, the west part of the neighborhood has the fewest, with approximately 44 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA

The total projected cost of crime in Serra Mesa for 2025 is $13,957,743. This translates to approximately $414 per resident and $1,024 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.7% of the median household income in Serra Mesa. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.5%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 33.8%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.6%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Serra Mesa Compared to Other Neighborhoods?

Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA:	$414
New Downtown, Los Angeles, CA:	$1496
El Toro Marine Air Station, Ir:	$200
California:	$491
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Serra Mesa is $414 per year, which is $50 less than the national average and $76 less than San Diego's city average. Below we compare neighborhoods similar to Serra Mesa:

In New Downtown, Los Angeles, CA, crime costs $1,496 per person, which is $1,082 more than in Serra Mesa.
In El Toro Marine Air Station, Ir, crime costs $200 per person, which is $214 less than in Serra Mesa

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Serra Mesa for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Serra Mesa	Cost per Serra Mesa Resident
Murder	$1.98 million	$59
Rape/Sexual Assault	$894,773	$27
Robbery	$1.19 million	$35
Assault	$2.28 million	$68
Kidnapping	$206,294	$6
Vehicle Theft	$2.63 million	$78
Burglary	$971,526	$29
Theft	$2.43 million	$72
Arson	$210,261	$6
Vandalism	$541,271	$16
Animal Cruelty	$6,894	$0
Drug Crimes	$501,374	$15
Identity Theft	$105,484	$3
Total Cost of Crime	$13,957,743	$414

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Serra Mesa, 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 Serra Mesa totals $18,724,707 ($556 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $32,682,450 ($970 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 Serra Mesa 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 north part of the neighborhood 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 always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas have the same problem. Of Serra Mesa’s 33,695 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 Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA at ISP Reports.

Serra Mesa 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 Serra Mesa residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.353
Robbery	1.125
Rape	0.4380
Murder	0.0313
Total Violent Crime	3.947 (B-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	13.95
Vehicle Theft	5.047
Burglary	3.179
Arson	0.2584
Total Property Crime	22.43 (C+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1010
Drug Crimes	2.012
Vandalism	2.249
Identity Theft	0.4045
Animal Cruelty	0.0277
Total "Other" Rate	4.793 (A-)

Individual Serra Mesa Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Neighborhoods

Compared to surrounding neighborhoods, the rate of crime in Serra Mesa is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for neighborhoods close to Serra Mesa.

Nearby Neighborhood	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Bird Land, San Diego, CA	C-	C-	D
Mission Valley East, San Diego, CA	D-	D-	F
Grantville, San Diego, CA	C	C	D+
Linda Vista, San Diego, CA	B-	C	C
Normal Heights, San Diego, CA	C	D+	D+
Kearny Mesa, San Diego, CA	F	F	F
Kensington, San Diego, CA	C+	C-	C
University Heights, San Diego, CA	C	D+	D+
Clairemont Mesa, San Diego, CA	B	B-	B-
Allied Gardens, San Diego, CA	C	C+	D+

Crime Maps and Rates for Neighborhood with Similar Populations

Serra Mesa is lower versus other neighborhoods of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in neighborhoods with comparable overall population in the neighborhood‘s boundaries.

Similar Neighborhood	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Millard, Omaha, NE	A	A	A
Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA	C	D+	D+
Southwest, Reno, NV	D-	D+	D+
Rosedale, Queens, NY	A	B-	B-
Montecito Heights, Los Angeles, CA	C+	D+	D+
Montebello, Denver, CO	C+	C-	C-
La Habra City, La Habra, CA	B	C+	C+
South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA	F	D-	D-
Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA	D+	D	D
Eastside Enact, Tacoma, WA	D-	D+	D+

Considering only the crime rate, Serra Mesa 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 Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA average SchoolGrade of B-, with 42% actual proficiency versus 37% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Serra Mesa schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.