Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Brookings, SD has a Safety Score of 64/100 — safer than 64% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,266.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,072 of 2,971 US cities and #2 of 13 in South Dakota.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Brookings, South Dakota Safe?
Brookings, South Dakota, home to South Dakota State University, is a plains community near the Minnesota border. Its population of around 24,000 is largely influenced by the university's students and faculty.
Brookings has a safety score of 64/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,266.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Brookings ranks #2 out of 13 cities in South Dakota and #1072 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 64th percentile for safety — safer than 64% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Brookings are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Brookings's total crime rate decreased by 1%, with violent crime declining 13.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Brookings Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 22 | 89.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 16.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 17 | 69.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 290 | 1,177.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 11 | 44.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 261 | 1,059.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 18 | 73.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Brookings vs South Dakota Average
How does Brookings's crime rate compare to the South Dakota state average?
| Metric | Brookings | South Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 89.3 | 455.0 | -80.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,177.0 | 2,476.1 | -52.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,266.3 | 2,931.1 | -56.8% |
Brookings Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Brookings, South Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,638 | 1,266.3 | 89.3 | 1,177.0 |
| 2023 | 24,316 | 1,279.0 | 102.8 | 1,176.2 |
| 2022 | 23,725 | 1,487.9 | 177.0 | 1,310.9 |
| 2021 | 25,088 | 781.3 | 107.6 | 673.6 |
| 2020 | 24,682 | 1,093.9 | 154.0 | 940.0 |
| 2019 | 24,823 | 1,494.6 | 221.6 | 1,273.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brookings, South Dakota safe?
Brookings has a safety score of 64/100, meaning it has less crime than about 64% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,266.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Brookings is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Brookings, South Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Brookings has a violent crime rate of 89.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,177.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Brookings compare to the national average?
Brookings's total crime rate of 1,266.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,638 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Brookings?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Brookings include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Brookings safe to visit?
Like any city, Brookings has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 64/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.