Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Mitchell, SD has a Safety Score of 35/100 — higher crime than 65% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,229.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,933 of 2,957 US cities and #9 of 13 in South Dakota.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Mitchell, SD?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Mitchell, South Dakota Safe?
Mitchell, South Dakota, a city of around 15,000 residents, is home to the world-famous Corn Palace, an annual marvel of agricultural art. Located in Davison County, it serves as a regional hub for agriculture and education, with Dakota Wesleyan University.
Mitchell has a safety score of 35/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,229.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Mitchell ranks #9 out of 13 cities in South Dakota and #1933 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 35th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 65% of US cities.
Year over year, Mitchell's total crime rate decreased by 10.5%, with violent crime declining 19.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mitchell Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 41 | 262.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 6 | 38.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 3 | 19.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 31 | 198.6 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 307 | 1,967.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 26 | 166.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 249 | 1,595.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 32 | 205.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Mitchell vs South Dakota Average
How does Mitchell's crime rate compare to the South Dakota state average?
| Metric | Mitchell | South Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.7 | 455.0 | -42.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,967.1 | 2,476.1 | -20.6% |
| Murder Rate | 6.4 | 4.8 | +33.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,229.8 | 2,931.1 | -23.9% |
Mitchell Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Mitchell, South Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,607 | 2,229.8 | 262.7 | 1,967.1 |
| 2023 | 15,657 | 2,490.9 | 325.7 | 2,165.2 |
| 2022 | 15,579 | 2,907.8 | 378.7 | 2,529.1 |
| 2021 | 15,741 | 3,011.2 | 565.4 | 2,445.8 |
| 2020 | 15,726 | 3,611.9 | 438.8 | 3,173.1 |
| 2019 | 15,733 | 3,794.6 | 375.0 | 3,419.6 |
Mitchell Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Mitchell and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: South Dakota crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mitchell, South Dakota safe?
Mitchell has a safety score of 35/100, meaning it has less crime than about 35% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,229.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Mitchell is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Mitchell, South Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Mitchell has a violent crime rate of 262.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,967.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Mitchell compare to the national average?
Mitchell's total crime rate of 2,229.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 15,607 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Mitchell?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Mitchell are larceny-theft (249 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (32 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 7.5x in the city.
Is Mitchell safe to visit?
Like any city, Mitchell has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 35/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.