Santa Barbara, CA vs Tempe, AZ

Santa Barbara, CA is safer with a higher safety score by several points. Santa Barbara, CA has a safety score of 62/100 while Tempe, AZ has 62/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Barbara, CA has a violent crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents, while Tempe, AZ has 470.3 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 2893.8 per 100,000 in Tempe, AZ. 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, CA 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.