Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 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 #2,850 of 2,971 US cities and #35 of 40 in South Carolina.
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 for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,803.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Sumter ranks #35 out of 40 cities in South Carolina and #2850 out of 2971 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 — 3.8x 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 467 | 1,097.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 10 | 23.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 10 | 23.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 28 | 65.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 419 | 984.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,577 | 3,706.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 145 | 340.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,223 | 2,874.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 209 | 491.2 | 352.4 |
| 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 | 493.6 | +122.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,706.1 | 2,669.0 | +38.9% |
| Murder Rate | 23.5 | 8.0 | +192.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,803.7 | 3,162.7 | +51.9% |
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 |
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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
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.