CCCityCheck
Find Your City
SafetyCostThings to DoToolsDataSearch

Riverside vs Chula Vista: Crime & Safety Comparison (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

Riverside has a crime rate of 21.7 per 1,000 residents vs Chula Vista's 21.9 per 1,000, making Riverside 1% safer overall. Riverside earns a B- safety grade compared to Chula Vista's B-. Both figures are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

B-

Riverside

California

Overall GradeB-
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeB-
Crime Rate21.7/1K
Percentile53%
B-

Chula Vista

California

Overall GradeB-
Violent CrimeC
Property CrimeB-
Crime Rate21.9/1K
Percentile53%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricRiversideChula Vista
Overall Crime Rate21.7/1K21.9/1K
Violent Crime Rate357.1479.6
Property Crime Rate1811.71708.9
Murder Rate4.47.4
Assault Rate268.4379.1
Robbery Rate82.873.5
Burglary Rate325.4193.5
Theft Rate1295.11263.3
Vehicle Theft Rate461.1294.2

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, Riverside is safer in 4 and Chula Vista is safer in 5.

Victim Odds Comparison

In Riverside, you have a 1 in 46 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 46 in Chula Vista.

Full Safety Reports

B-
Riverside, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
B-
Chula Vista, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riverside safer than Chula Vista?
As of 2026, Riverside is 1% safer overall, with a crime rate of 21.7 per 1,000 residents compared to Chula Vista's 21.9. Riverside earns a B- safety grade vs Chula Vista's B-. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, Riverside or Chula Vista?
Chula Vista has more violent crime at 480 per 100,000 residents. Riverside is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in Riverside vs Chula Vista?
Riverside has a crime rate of 21.7 per 1,000 (violent: 357/100K, property: 1812/100K). Chula Vista has 21.9 per 1,000 (violent: 480/100K, property: 1709/100K).
Should I move to Riverside or Chula Vista?
From a safety perspective, Riverside has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. Riverside (pop. 323,057) and Chula Vista (pop. 275,533) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Riverside's B- safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do Riverside and Chula Vista compare for property crime?
Chula Vista has lower property crime at 1709 per 100K vs Riverside's 1812. The national average is 1,832 per 100K. Theft is the most common property crime in both cities.

Related Comparisons

Riverside vs San FranciscoRiverside vs FresnoRiverside vs SacramentoChula Vista vs San FranciscoChula Vista vs FresnoChula Vista vs Sacramento

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities