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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, South St. Paul, MN has a Safety Score of 51/100 — safer than 51% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,469 of 2,971 US cities and #53 of 90 in Minnesota.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is South St. Paul, Minnesota Safe?
South St. Paul, once the "Cow Capital of the World," sits along the Mississippi River. This working-class city in Dakota County has a population of around 20,000.
South St. Paul has a safety score of 51/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
South St. Paul ranks #53 out of 90 cities in Minnesota and #1469 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 51st percentile for safety — safer than 51% of US cities.
Year over year, South St. Paul's total crime rate decreased by 12.1%, with violent crime rising 11.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
South St. Paul Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 72 | 348.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 7 | 33.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 14.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 62 | 300.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 273 | 1,322.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 30 | 145.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 210 | 1,017.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 33 | 159.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
South St. Paul vs Minnesota Average
How does South St. Paul's crime rate compare to the Minnesota state average?
| Metric | South St. Paul | Minnesota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 348.7 | 341.7 | +2.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,322.2 | 2,199.4 | -39.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,670.9 | 2,541.1 | -34.2% |
South St. Paul Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for South St. Paul, Minnesota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,648 | 1,670.9 | 348.7 | 1,322.2 |
| 2023 | 20,403 | 1,901.7 | 313.7 | 1,588.0 |
| 2022 | 20,337 | 2,719.2 | 408.1 | 2,311.1 |
| 2021 | 19,895 | 3,096.3 | 366.9 | 2,729.3 |
| 2020 | 20,053 | 2,687.9 | 179.5 | 2,508.4 |
| 2019 | 20,148 | 2,615.6 | 228.3 | 2,387.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South St. Paul, Minnesota safe?
South St. Paul has a safety score of 51/100, meaning it has less crime than about 51% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, South St. Paul is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in South St. Paul, Minnesota?
According to FBI data for 2024, South St. Paul has a violent crime rate of 348.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,322.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does South St. Paul compare to the national average?
South St. Paul's total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 20,648 residents.
What types of crime are most common in South St. Paul?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in South St. Paul include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is South St. Paul safe to visit?
Like any city, South St. Paul has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 51/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.