Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Pierre, SD has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,496.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,128 of 2,971 US cities and #11 of 13 in South Dakota.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Pierre, South Dakota Safe?
Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, sits on the Missouri River. Its economy is largely driven by state government and agriculture. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,091.
Pierre has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,496.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Pierre ranks #11 out of 13 cities in South Dakota and #2128 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Pierre is rape, at 72.4 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Pierre's total crime rate decreased by 11.1%, with violent crime rising 10.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Pierre Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 70 | 506.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 10 | 72.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 7.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 59 | 426.9 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 275 | 1,989.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 33 | 238.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 213 | 1,541.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 | 209.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Pierre vs South Dakota Average
How does Pierre's crime rate compare to the South Dakota state average?
| Metric | Pierre | South Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 506.4 | 455.0 | +11.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,989.6 | 2,476.1 | -19.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,496.0 | 2,931.1 | -14.8% |
Pierre Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Pierre, South Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,822 | 2,496.0 | 506.4 | 1,989.6 |
| 2023 | 13,924 | 2,808.1 | 459.6 | 2,348.5 |
| 2022 | 13,977 | 2,268.0 | 493.7 | 1,774.3 |
| 2021 | 13,710 | 2,385.1 | 328.2 | 2,056.9 |
| 2020 | 13,888 | 3,902.7 | 928.9 | 2,973.8 |
| 2019 | 14,018 | 3,195.9 | 463.7 | 2,732.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pierre, South Dakota safe?
Pierre has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,496.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Pierre is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Pierre, South Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Pierre has a violent crime rate of 506.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,989.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Pierre compare to the national average?
Pierre's total crime rate of 2,496.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 13,822 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Pierre?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Pierre include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Pierre safe to visit?
Like any city, Pierre has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.