Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Sumter, SC has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,803.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,835 of 2,957 US cities and #34 of 39 in South Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Sumter, SC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sumter, South Carolina Safe?
Sumter, SC, known for Shaw Air Force Base, is a mid-sized city in the heart of South Carolina. It boasts a diverse population of over 40,000 residents.
Sumter has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,803.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Sumter ranks #34 out of 39 cities in South Carolina and #2835 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 Sumter is murder, at 23.5 per 100K — 3.7x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Sumter's total crime rate decreased by 0.7%, with violent crime rising 23.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sumter Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 467 | 1,097.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 10 | 23.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 10 | 23.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 28 | 65.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 419 | 984.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,577 | 3,706.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 145 | 340.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,223 | 2,874.2 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 209 | 491.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sumter vs South Carolina Average
How does Sumter's crime rate compare to the South Carolina state average?
| Metric | Sumter | South Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,097.5 | 501.5 | +118.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,706.1 | 2,708.0 | +36.9% |
| Murder Rate | 23.5 | 8.2 | +187.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,803.7 | 3,209.6 | +49.7% |
Sumter Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sumter, South Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42,551 | 4,803.7 | 1,097.5 | 3,706.1 |
| 2023 | 42,430 | 4,836.2 | 888.5 | 3,947.7 |
| 2022 | 42,613 | 4,015.2 | 851.9 | 3,163.4 |
| 2021 | 39,328 | 4,348.1 | 879.8 | 3,468.3 |
| 2020 | 39,542 | 4,913.8 | 1,234.1 | 3,679.6 |
| 2019 | 39,546 | 5,598.5 | 1,057.0 | 4,541.6 |
Sumter Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Sumter 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 Sumter, South Carolina safe?
Sumter 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 4,803.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Sumter is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Sumter, South Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Sumter has a violent crime rate of 1,097.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,706.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sumter compare to the national average?
Sumter's total crime rate of 4,803.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 42,551 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sumter?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Sumter are larceny-theft (1,223 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (419 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.4x in the city.
Is Sumter safe to visit?
Like any city, Sumter 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.