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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, North Charleston, SC has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,831 of 2,957 US cities and #33 of 39 in South Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than North Charleston, SC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is North Charleston, South Carolina Safe?
North Charleston, a city with a rich naval history, lies in the heart of the Lowcountry. It's home to a diverse population exceeding 115,000 residents, spanning both Charleston and Dorchester counties.
North Charleston has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
North Charleston ranks #33 out of 39 cities in South Carolina and #2831 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 4th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 96% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in North Charleston is murder, at 17.0 per 100K — 2.7x the national average.
Year over year, North Charleston's total crime rate decreased by 14.9%, with violent crime declining 12.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
North Charleston Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,002 | 811.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 21 | 17.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 75 | 60.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 189 | 153.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 716 | 579.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 4,886 | 3,955.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 400 | 323.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,836 | 3,105.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 650 | 526.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
North Charleston vs South Carolina Average
How does North Charleston's crime rate compare to the South Carolina state average?
| Metric | North Charleston | South Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 811.3 | 501.5 | +61.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,955.9 | 2,708.0 | +46.1% |
| Murder Rate | 17.0 | 8.2 | +107.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,767.2 | 3,209.6 | +48.5% |
North Charleston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for North Charleston, South Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 123,511 | 4,767.2 | 811.3 | 3,955.9 |
| 2023 | 120,162 | 5,599.1 | 924.6 | 4,674.5 |
| 2022 | 119,198 | 5,773.6 | 948.8 | 4,824.8 |
| 2021 | 121,060 | 6,100.3 | 1,027.6 | 5,072.7 |
| 2020 | 117,503 | 6,335.2 | 1,160.0 | 5,175.2 |
| 2019 | 115,312 | 6,986.3 | 966.9 | 6,019.3 |
North Charleston Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for North Charleston and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: South Carolina crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Charleston, South Carolina safe?
North Charleston has a safety score of 4/100, meaning it has less crime than about 4% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, North Charleston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in North Charleston, South Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, North Charleston has a violent crime rate of 811.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,955.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does North Charleston compare to the national average?
North Charleston's total crime rate of 4,767.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 123,511 residents.
What types of crime are most common in North Charleston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in North Charleston are larceny-theft (3,836 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (716 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.9x in the city.
Is North Charleston safe to visit?
Like any city, North Charleston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 4/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.