Santa Barbara, CA vs Tacoma, WA

Santa Barbara is safer with a higher safety score by 11 points. Santa Barbara, CA has a safety score of 62/100 while Tacoma, WA has 51/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Barbara, CA has a violent crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents, while Tacoma, WA has 1063.0 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Santa Barbara, CA has a property crime rate of 1809.7 per 100,000, compared to 5603.6 per 100,000 in Tacoma, WA. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Santa Barbara is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.