Are South Carolina and its Cities Safe or Dangerous in 2024?

How Safe or Dangerous Is South Carolina in 2024?

South Carolina Safety Scores, out of 100 points (2023)

South Carolina, with a 43/100 safety score from overall crime, is characterized by its fair and uneven safety record.

Overall Crime (safety score): 43
Violent Crime (safety score): 41
Property Crime (safety score): 46

Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from overall crime, this state is somewhat more dangerous (-7 pts lower), somewhat more dangerous from violent crime (-7 pts lower), and somewhat more dangerous from property crime (-7 pts lower).

Where Does South Carolina Rank in Safety Among U.S. States in 2023?

Overall Crime (safety ranking): 41st
Violent Crime (safety ranking): 39th
Property Crime (safety ranking): 40th

Across the 50 states in America (and D.C.), where crime figures are documented, South Carolina state is ranked 41st in overall safety from overall crime, making it a much more dangerous state comparatively speaking. In terms of individual categories of violent and property crime, South Carolina is ranked 39th on safety from violent crime, meaning it's a more dangerous state for this category of crime. With respect to safety from property crime, this state is positioned 40th and is a much more dangerous state relative to others.

Is South Carolina Becoming Safer or More Dangerous?

Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores (2023 vs. 2022)

Overall Crime (Year-on-Year): no change
Violent Crime (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
Property Crime (Year-on-Year): +1 percentage point

Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from overall crime, this state in 2023 is the same in terms of overall safety levels (unchanged), slightly more dangerous from violent crime (-1 pts lower), and slightly safer from property crime (+1 pts higher).

What Is the Likelihood of Becoming a Crime Victim in South Carolina in 2024?

Overall Crime: Moderate
Violent Crime: Moderate
Property Crime: Low

In South Carolina, the overall risk of becoming a victim of crime is moderate. Specifically, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is moderate, and the risk of becoming a victim of property crime is low.

What Are the Overall Crime Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Overall Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Total Crime
SC State	43
U.S. Avg.	50

Safety from Overall Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	43	50
2022	43	46
2021	39	45
2020	38	44
2019	36	45
2018	34	44
2017	34	42

Investigating South Carolina, and mapping its crime rate trends notes that for overall crime, the state’s present condition, in comparison with pre-pandemic years, is somewhat safer (+8 pts higher), somewhat safer now from violent crime (+5 pts higher), and safer now from property crime (+14 pts higher).

Insights from U.S. national crime data imply that for overall crime, the U.S. now, compared to the pre-pandemic years, is somewhat safer (+6 pts higher), slightly safer now from violent crime (+4 pts higher), and somewhat safer now from property crime (+9 pts higher).

Learn more about South Carolina's violent crime and property crime in our detailed sections.

Violent Crime: How Safe or Dangerous Is South Carolina in 2024?

Safety Scores from Violent Crime, out of 100 points (2023)

With a 41/100 safety score from violent crime, South Carolina is a state where targeted efforts can improve the current safety situation.

Overall Violent Crime (safety score): 41
Murder (safety score): 29
Rape (safety score): 50
Robbery (safety score): 65
Aggravated Assault (safety score): 29

Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from violent crime, this state is somewhat more dangerous (-7 pts lower), more dangerous from murder (-11 pts lower), somewhat more dangerous from rape (-5 pts lower), somewhat safer from robbery (+7 pts higher), and more dangerous from aggravated assault (-14 pts lower).

How Does South Carolina Rank in Violent Crime Among U.S. States in 2023?

Overall Violent Crime (safety ranking): 39th
Murder (safety ranking): 46th
Rape (safety ranking): 28th
Robbery (safety ranking): 29th
Aggravated Assault (safety ranking): 45th

Considering the 50 states in America (and D.C.), that have crime data available, South Carolina state is ranked 39th in overall safety from violent crime, making it a more dangerous state comparatively speaking. In terms of individual categories of violent crime, South Carolina is ranked 46th on safety from murder, meaning it's a considerably more dangerous state for this type of crime. With respect to safety from rape, this state is positioned 28th and is a slightly more dangerous state relative to others. Regarding safety from robbery, this state comes in at 29th place, indicating that it's a slightly more dangerous state, and for safety from aggravated assault, it's ranked 45th, making it a considerably more dangerous state.

Is Violent Crime Increasing or Decreasing in South Carolina?

Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores from Violent Crime (2023 vs. 2022)

Overall Violent Crime (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
Murder (Year-on-Year): +1 percentage point
Rape (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
Robbery (Year-on-Year): -2 percentage points
Aggravated Assault (Year-on-Year): no change

Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from violent crime, this state in 2023 is slightly more dangerous overall (-1 pts lower), slightly safer from murder (+1 pts higher), slightly more dangerous from rape (-1 pts lower), slightly more dangerous from robbery (-2 pts lower), and the same in terms of safety levels from aggravated assault (unchanged).

What Is the Likelihood of Experiencing Violent Crime in South Carolina in 2024?

Overall Violent Crime: Moderate
Murder: Moderate
Rape: Low
Robbery: Minor
Aggravated Assault: Moderate

In South Carolina, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is moderate. Beware of:

Murder
Aggravated Assault

What Are the Violent Crime Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Violent Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Total Violent Crime
SC State	41
U.S. Avg.	48

Safety from Violent Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	41	48
2022	42	43
2021	39	41
2020	40	42
2019	37	44
2018	36	44
2017	35	43

Investigating South Carolina, crime patterns highlights that for violent crime, the present state of the state, relative to pre-pandemic years, is somewhat safer (+5 pts higher), still on par with the 2017-2019 period in terms of safety from murder (unchanged), safer now from rape (+14 pts higher), safer now from robbery (+11 pts higher), and slightly more dangerous now from aggravated assault (-1 pts lower).

Investigating U.S. national crime rates unveils that for overall violent crime, the nation now compared to the pre-pandemic years, is slightly safer (+4 pts higher), slightly more dangerous now from murder (-1 pts lower), somewhat safer now from rape (+9 pts higher), safer now from robbery (+11 pts higher), and still on par with the 2017-2019 period in terms of safety from aggravated assault (unchanged).

What Are the Murder Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Murder: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Homicide
SC State	29
U.S. Avg.	40

Safety from Murder (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	29	40
2022	28	33
2021	28	30
2020	28	32
2019	29	41
2018	29	42
2017	30	40

What Are the Rape Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Rape: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Rape
SC State	50
U.S. Avg.	55

Safety from Rape (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	50	55
2022	51	49
2021	44	47
2020	49	51
2019	38	45
2018	34	45
2017	35	47

What Are the Robbery Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Robbery: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Robbery
SC State	65
U.S. Avg.	58

Safety from Robbery (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	65	58
2022	67	56
2021	62	56
2020	58	53
2019	57	50
2018	54	48
2017	52	43

What Are the Aggravated Assault Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Aggravated Assault: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Aggravated Assault
SC State	29
U.S. Avg.	43

Safety from Aggravated Assault (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	29	43
2022	29	41
2021	29	41
2020	29	40
2019	29	43
2018	30	44
2017	30	43

Property Crime: How Safe or Dangerous Is South Carolina in 2024?

Safety Scores from Property Crime, out of 100 points (2023)

South Carolina, with a 46/100 safety score from property crime, is a state where safety is somewhat unpredictable, with mixed outcomes.

Overall Property Crime (safety score): 46
Burglary (safety score): 45
Larceny (safety score): 48
Auto Theft (safety score): 46
Arson (safety score): 39

Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from property crime, this state is somewhat more dangerous (-7 pts lower), more dangerous from burglary (-13 pts lower), somewhat more dangerous from larceny (-9 pts lower), somewhat safer from auto theft (+7 pts higher), and somewhat more dangerous from arson (-6 pts lower).

How Does South Carolina Rank in Property Crime Among U.S. States in 2023?

Overall Property Crime (safety ranking): 40th
Burglary (safety ranking): 40th
Larceny (safety ranking): 43rd
Auto Theft (safety ranking): 39th
Arson (safety ranking): 33rd

In the context of the 50 states in America (and D.C.) with accessible crime statistics, South Carolina state is ranked 40th in overall safety from property crime, making it a much more dangerous state comparatively speaking. In terms of individual categories of property crime, South Carolina is ranked 40th on safety from burglary, meaning it's a much more dangerous state for this type of crime. With respect to safety from larceny, this state is positioned 43rd and is a much more dangerous state relative to others. Regarding safety from auto theft, this state comes in at 39th place, indicating that it's a more dangerous state, and for safety from arson, it's ranked 33rd, making it a somewhat more dangerous state.

Is Property Crime Increasing or Decreasing in South Carolina?

Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores from Property Crime (2023 vs. 2022)

Overall Property Crime (Year-on-Year): +1 percentage point
Burglary (Year-on-Year): +2 percentage points
Larceny (Year-on-Year): +1 percentage point
Auto Theft (Year-on-Year): -3 percentage points
Arson (Year-on-Year): no change

Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from property crime, this state in 2023 is slightly safer overall (+1 pts higher), slightly safer from burglary (+2 pts higher), slightly safer from larceny (+1 pts higher), slightly more dangerous from auto theft (-3 pts lower), and the same in terms of safety levels from arson (unchanged).

What Is the Likelihood of Experiencing Property Crime in South Carolina in 2024?

Overall Property Crime: Low
Burglary: Low
Larceny: Low
Auto Theft: Low
Arson: Moderate

In South Carolina, the risk of becoming a victim of property crime is low. Beware of Arson.

What Are the Property Crime Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Property Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Total Property Crime
SC State	46
U.S. Avg.	53

Safety from Property Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	46	53
2022	45	51
2021	40	53
2020	35	49
2019	33	48
2018	31	45
2017	31	41

Investigating South Carolina, in terms of property crime rates shows that the state now, when contrasted with pre-pandemic levels, is safer (+14 pts higher), safer now from burglary (+18 pts higher), safer now from larceny (+17 pts higher), slightly safer now from auto theft (+4 pts higher), and slightly safer now from arson (+2 pts higher).

Investigation into U.S. national crime figures suggests that in overall property crime, the U.S. now, compared to the pre-pandemic years, is somewhat safer (+9 pts higher), safer now from burglary (+19 pts higher), somewhat safer now from larceny (+8 pts higher), more dangerous now from auto theft (-12 pts lower), and somewhat safer now from arson (+6 pts higher).

What Are the Burglary Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Burglary: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Burglary
SC State	45
U.S. Avg.	58

Safety from Burglary (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	45	58
2022	43	54
2021	38	53
2020	30	48
2019	28	44
2018	27	39
2017	26	32

What Are the Larceny Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Larceny: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Larceny
SC State	48
U.S. Avg.	57

Safety from Larceny (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	48	57
2022	47	54
2021	43	57
2020	37	54
2019	33	50
2018	30	49
2017	29	47

What Are the Auto Theft Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Auto Theft: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Auto Theft
SC State	46
U.S. Avg.	39

Safety from Auto Theft (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	46	39
2022	49	44
2021	43	48
2020	44	49
2019	42	52
2018	42	51
2017	43	50

What Are the Arson Trends in South Carolina from 2017 to 2023?

Current Safety from Arson: State Score vs. U.S. Average

Safety Scores from Arson
SC State	39
U.S. Avg.	45

Safety from Arson (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average

	SC State	U.S. Avg.
2023	39	45
2022	39	40
2021	33	50
2020	32	33
2019	40	42
2018	37	39
2017	34	35

The assessments presented on this website, including those related to crime, safety, cost of living, and other location characteristics (e.g., states, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, areas, landmarks), are based on various sources and our internal research methods. These assessments are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete and should not be used as the sole basis for making any decisions.

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Is South Carolina Safe to Live in 2024?

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