Violent Crime per Capita in San Diego County
The map below shows violent crime per 1,000 San Diego County residents.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C
Violent Crime Grade |
C- |
D+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A |
$745.3 million
Cost of Crime™ for San Diego County, CA
In 2025, violent crime will cost $644 per household.
Crime Grade's violent crime map highlights the safest areas in San Diego County 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.
The C- grade indicates that the rate of violent crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. San Diego County ranks in the 36th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 36% of counties but less safe than 64%. This analysis applies only to San Diego County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The violent crime rate in San Diego County is 4.360 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. San Diego County residents generally consider the north part of the county to be the safest.Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in San Diego County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 150 in the south areas to 1 in 295 in the north.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of San Diego County, CA see the most incidents - about 3,638 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 444 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in San Diego County, CA
The total projected cost of crime in San Diego County for 2025 is $745,345,314. This translates to approximately $224 per resident and $644 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.4% of the median household income in San Diego County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 45.0%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 40.8%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 14.0%
How Much Does Violent Crime Cost in San Diego County Compared to Other Counties?
| San Diego County, CA: | $224 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco County, CA: | $602 |
| Placer County, CA: | $153 |
| California: | $264 |
| USA: | $258 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in San Diego County is $224 per year, which is $34 less than the national average and $40 less than California's state average. Below we compare counties similar to San Diego County:
- In San Francisco County, CA, crime costs $602 per person, which is $378 more than in San Diego County.
- In Placer County, CA, crime costs $153 per person, which is $71 less than in San Diego County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of San Diego County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to San Diego County |
Cost per San Diego County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$272.8 million |
$82 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$95.1 million |
$29 |
Robbery |
$116.2 million |
$35 |
Assault |
$261.3 million |
$79 |
Total Cost of Violent Crime |
$745,345,314 |
$224 |
The Intangible Cost of Violent Crime in San Diego County, 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 County totals $2,397,673,358 ($721 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $3,143,018,672 ($945 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 Violent Crime Maps
When interpreting the San Diego County violent crime map, keep in mind that violent 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 county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate violent 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 San Diego County 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 San Diego County has 527, have the same problem. Of San Diego County’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 County, CA at ISP Reports.San Diego County Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All violent crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 San Diego County residents in a standard year.
San Diego County Violent Crime Breakdown
The table below shows which violent crimes are used to calculate the Violent Crime Grade above. All violent crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 San Diego County residents in a standard year.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.734 |
Robbery |
1.111 |
Rape |
0.4713 |
Murder |
0.0436 |
Total Violent Crime |
4.360 (C-) |
Individual San Diego County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of violent crime in San Diego County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to San Diego County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D | D- | D- | |
B- | C- | C | |
A | B- | A- | |
B- | C- | C+ | |
D+ | F | D+ | |
D | D- | D | |
D- | F | D | |
D+ | D | C- | |
C- | D+ | C- | |
C | C- | C+ |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
San Diego County is similar versus other counties of the same size for violent crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C- | D | D | |
B- | C+ | C+ | |
B- | C | C | |
D- | D- | D- | |
D- | C+ | C+ | |
A- | B+ | B+ | |
B- | B- | B- | |
D- | C | C | |
F | C- | C- | |
A+ | A- | A- |
Considering only the violent crime rate, San Diego County is safer than the California state average and less safe than the national average.
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