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San Francisco vs Denver: Crime & Safety Comparison (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 residents vs Denver's 43.5 per 1,000, making Denver 12% safer overall. Denver earns a F safety grade compared to San Francisco's F. Both figures are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

F

San Francisco

California

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

Denver

Colorado

Overall GradeF
Violent CrimeC
Property CrimeF
Crime Rate43.5/1K
Percentile9%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoDenver
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K43.5/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.0550.0
Property Crime Rate4500.03800.0
Murder Rate6.88.6
Assault Rate288.5429.0
Robbery Rate61.099.8
Burglary Rate699.8593.2
Theft Rate3660.43293.7
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0888.1

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, San Francisco is safer in 4 and Denver is safer in 5.

Victim Odds Comparison

In San Francisco, you have a 1 in 20 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 23 in Denver.

Full Safety Reports

F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
F
Denver, Colorado Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: San Francisco vs Denver

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

Denver Climate Overview

Annual High65.3°F
Annual Low36.1°F
Annual Rain15.5"
Annual Snow43.0"
Comfortable Months5
Best MonthJune
Worst MonthNovember
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
FreezingColdComfortableWarm

Monthly Temperature Comparison

San FranciscoDenverHigh/Low °F range
20°40°60°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Denver is 19°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but Denver is 30°F colder in winter than San Francisco. Denver gets 43 inches of snow annually, while San Francisco rarely sees any. San Francisco is wetter with 22" of annual rain compared to 16". San Francisco has more comfortable weather months (9 vs 5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safer than Denver?
As of 2026, Denver is 12% safer overall, with a crime rate of 43.5 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. Denver earns a F safety grade vs San Francisco's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, San Francisco or Denver?
Denver has more violent crime at 550 per 100,000 residents. San Francisco is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in San Francisco vs Denver?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). Denver has 43.5 per 1,000 (violent: 550/100K, property: 3800/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or Denver?
From a safety perspective, Denver has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and Denver (pop. 740,613) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Denver's F safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Francisco and Denver compare for property crime?
Denver has lower property crime at 3800 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

San Francisco vs Los AngelesSan Francisco vs San DiegoSan Francisco vs San JoseDenver vs AustinDenver vs PortlandDenver vs Seattle

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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