CCCityCheck
Find Your City
SafetyCostThings to DoToolsDataSearch

San Francisco vs Sacramento: 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 Sacramento's 23 per 1,000, making Sacramento 54% safer overall. Sacramento earns a C+ 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%
C+

Sacramento

California

Overall GradeC+
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeB-
Crime Rate23/1K
Percentile50%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoSacramento
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K23/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.0414.0
Property Crime Rate4500.01886.2
Murder Rate6.88.4
Assault Rate288.5276.2
Robbery Rate61.065.8
Burglary Rate699.8279.7
Theft Rate3660.41539.8
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0297.0

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, San Francisco is safer in 2 and Sacramento is safer in 7.

Victim Odds Comparison

In San Francisco, you have a 1 in 20 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 43 in Sacramento.

Full Safety Reports

F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
C+
Sacramento, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: San Francisco vs Sacramento

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

Sacramento Climate Overview

Annual High74.1°F
Annual Low50°F
Annual Rain19.6"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months7
Best MonthSeptember
Worst MonthJanuary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ColdComfortableWarm

Monthly Temperature Comparison

San FranciscoSacramentoHigh/Low °F range
40°60°80°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sacramento is 23°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but Sacramento is 7°F colder in winter than San Francisco. San Francisco has more comfortable weather months (9 vs 7).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safer than Sacramento?
As of 2026, Sacramento is 54% safer overall, with a crime rate of 23 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. Sacramento earns a C+ safety grade vs San Francisco's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, San Francisco or Sacramento?
San Francisco has more violent crime at 450 per 100,000 residents. Sacramento is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in San Francisco vs Sacramento?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). Sacramento has 23 per 1,000 (violent: 414/100K, property: 1886/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or Sacramento?
From a safety perspective, Sacramento has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and Sacramento (pop. 536,449) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Sacramento's C+ safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Francisco and Sacramento compare for property crime?
Sacramento has lower property crime at 1886 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 JoseSacramento vs Los AngelesSacramento vs San DiegoSacramento 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.

Know before you go

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

Explore cities