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San Francisco vs Santa Ana: 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 Santa Ana's 27.2 per 1,000, making Santa Ana 45% safer overall. Santa Ana 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

Santa Ana

California

Overall GradeC
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeC
Crime Rate27.2/1K
Percentile39%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoSanta Ana
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K27.2/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.0412.8
Property Crime Rate4500.02310.0
Murder Rate6.88.4
Assault Rate288.5344.1
Robbery Rate61.082.3
Burglary Rate699.8346.5
Theft Rate3660.41818.6
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0585.8

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 3 and Santa Ana is safer in 6.

Victim Odds Comparison

In San Francisco, you have a 1 in 20 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 37 in Santa Ana.

Full Safety Reports

F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
C
Santa Ana, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco safer than Santa Ana?
As of 2026, Santa Ana is 45% safer overall, with a crime rate of 27.2 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana?
San Francisco has more violent crime at 450 per 100,000 residents. Santa Ana is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in San Francisco vs Santa Ana?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). Santa Ana has 27.2 per 1,000 (violent: 413/100K, property: 2310/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or Santa Ana?
From a safety perspective, Santa Ana has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and Santa Ana (pop. 315,586) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. Santa Ana's C safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Francisco and Santa Ana compare for property crime?
Santa Ana has lower property crime at 2310 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 JoseSanta Ana vs FresnoSanta Ana vs SacramentoSanta Ana vs Long Beach

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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