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New York vs San Francisco: Crime & Safety Comparison (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

New York has a crime rate of 19.8 per 1,000 residents vs San Francisco's 49.5 per 1,000, making New York 60% safer overall. New York earns a B- safety grade compared to San Francisco's F. Both figures are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

B-

New York

New York

Overall GradeB-
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeB
Crime Rate19.8/1K
Percentile58%
F

San Francisco

California

Overall GradeF
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeF
Crime Rate49.5/1K
Percentile4%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricNew YorkSan Francisco
Overall Crime Rate19.8/1K49.5/1K
Violent Crime Rate380.0450.0
Property Crime Rate1600.04500.0
Murder Rate5.86.8
Assault Rate307.2288.5
Robbery Rate78.061.0
Burglary Rate209.6699.8
Theft Rate1317.53660.4
Vehicle Theft Rate222.61091.0

Crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data. Lower rates are better (safer).

Category Winner Summary

Out of 9 crime categories, New York is safer in 7 and San Francisco is safer in 2.

Victim Odds Comparison

In New York, you have a 1 in 51 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 20 in San Francisco.

Full Safety Reports

B-
New York, New York Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: New York vs San Francisco

New York Climate Overview

Annual High62.7°F
Annual Low47.3°F
Annual Rain49.0"
Annual Snow24.8"
Comfortable Months6
Best MonthJune
Worst MonthDecember
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ColdComfortableWarm

San Francisco Climate Overview

Annual High64.1°F
Annual Low51°F
Annual Rain22.2"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months9
Best MonthSeptember
Worst MonthJanuary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Comfortable

Monthly Temperature Comparison

New YorkSan FranciscoHigh/Low °F range
20°40°60°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

New York is 14°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but New York is 20°F colder in winter than San Francisco. New York gets 25 inches of snow annually, while San Francisco rarely sees any. New York is wetter with 49" of annual rain compared to 22". San Francisco has more comfortable weather months (9 vs 6).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New York safer than San Francisco?
As of 2026, New York is 60% safer overall, with a crime rate of 19.8 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. New York earns a B- safety grade vs San Francisco's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, New York or San Francisco?
San Francisco has more violent crime at 450 per 100,000 residents. New York is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in New York vs San Francisco?
New York has a crime rate of 19.8 per 1,000 (violent: 380/100K, property: 1600/100K). San Francisco has 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K).
Should I move to New York or San Francisco?
From a safety perspective, New York has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. New York (pop. 8,584,629) and San Francisco (pop. 826,079) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. New York's B- safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do New York and San Francisco compare for property crime?
New York has lower property crime at 1600 per 100K vs San Francisco's 4500. The national average is 1,832 per 100K. Theft is the most common property crime in both cities.

Related Comparisons

New York vs Los AngelesNew York vs ChicagoNew York vs BostonSan Francisco vs Los AngelesSan Francisco vs San DiegoSan Francisco vs San Jose

2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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