CCCityCheck
Find Your City
SafetyCostThings to DoToolsDataSearch

San Francisco vs Irvine: 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 Irvine's 11.6 per 1,000, making Irvine 77% safer overall. Irvine earns a B+ 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%
B+

Irvine

California

Overall GradeB+
Violent CrimeB+
Property CrimeB+
Crime Rate11.6/1K
Percentile78%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoIrvine
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K11.6/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.060.0
Property Crime Rate4500.01100.0
Murder Rate6.80.9
Assault Rate288.542.6
Robbery Rate61.013.2
Burglary Rate699.8172.1
Theft Rate3660.4730.0
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0262.4

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 0 and Irvine is safer in 9.

Victim Odds Comparison

In San Francisco, you have a 1 in 20 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 86 in Irvine.

Full Safety Reports

F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
B+
Irvine, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: San Francisco vs Irvine

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

Irvine Climate Overview

Annual High74.6°F
Annual Low55.1°F
Annual Rain12.8"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months12
Best MonthJune
Worst MonthFebruary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ComfortableWarm

Monthly Temperature Comparison

San FranciscoIrvineHigh/Low °F range
40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Irvine is 13°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but winter temperatures are comparable. San Francisco is wetter with 22" of annual rain compared to 13". Irvine has more comfortable weather months (12 vs 9).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safer than Irvine?
As of 2026, Irvine is 77% safer overall, with a crime rate of 11.6 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. Irvine earns a B+ safety grade vs San Francisco's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, San Francisco or Irvine?
San Francisco has more violent crime at 450 per 100,000 residents. Irvine is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in San Francisco vs Irvine?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). Irvine has 11.6 per 1,000 (violent: 60/100K, property: 1100/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or Irvine?
From a safety perspective, Irvine has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and Irvine (pop. 318,764) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Irvine's B+ safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Francisco and Irvine compare for property crime?
Irvine has lower property crime at 1100 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 JoseIrvine vs PlanoIrvine vs ScottsdaleIrvine vs Gilbert

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