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San Francisco vs San Jose: 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 San Jose's 25.9 per 1,000, making San Jose 48% safer overall. San Jose 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+

San Jose

California

Overall GradeC+
Violent CrimeC
Property CrimeC+
Crime Rate25.9/1K
Percentile42%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoSan Jose
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K25.9/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.0498.7
Property Crime Rate4500.02088.9
Murder Rate6.88.5
Assault Rate288.5310.2
Robbery Rate61.0102.2
Burglary Rate699.8233.4
Theft Rate3660.41440.1
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0394.7

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 San Jose 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 39 in San Jose.

Full Safety Reports

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

Weather Comparison: San Francisco vs San Jose

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

San Jose Climate Overview

Annual High70.9°F
Annual Low49.9°F
Annual Rain14.7"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months9
Best MonthAugust
Worst MonthJanuary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ComfortableWarm

Monthly Temperature Comparison

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

San Jose is 12°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but San Jose is 4°F colder in winter than San Francisco. San Francisco is wetter with 22" of annual rain compared to 15".

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safer than San Jose?
As of 2026, San Jose is 48% safer overall, with a crime rate of 25.9 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. San Jose 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 San Jose?
San Jose has more violent crime at 499 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 San Jose?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). San Jose has 25.9 per 1,000 (violent: 499/100K, property: 2089/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or San Jose?
From a safety perspective, San Jose has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and San Jose (pop. 989,814) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. San Jose's C+ safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Francisco and San Jose compare for property crime?
San Jose has lower property crime at 2089 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 New YorkSan Jose vs San DiegoSan Jose vs FresnoSan Jose 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.

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