Santa Barbara, CA vs Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach is safer with a higher safety score by 19 points. Santa Barbara, CA has a safety score of 62/100 while Virginia Beach, VA has 81/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Barbara, CA has a violent crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents, while Virginia Beach, VA has 92.3 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 1639.9 per 100,000 in Virginia Beach, VA. 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, Virginia Beach 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.