Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Rapid City, SD has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,807 of 2,971 US cities and #13 of 13 in South Dakota.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Rapid City, South Dakota Safe?
Rapid City, nestled at the foot of the Black Hills, is a gateway to Mount Rushmore. This city in western South Dakota has a population of over 78,000, making it the second largest in the state.
Rapid City has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Rapid City ranks #13 out of 13 cities in South Dakota and #2807 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Rapid City is rape, at 135.9 per 100K — 3.1x the national average.
Year over year, Rapid City's total crime rate decreased by 2.7%, with violent crime declining 2.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Rapid City Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 586 | 723.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 110 | 135.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 84 | 103.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 383 | 473.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 3,070 | 3,792.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 346 | 427.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,418 | 2,986.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 306 | 378.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rapid City vs South Dakota Average
How does Rapid City's crime rate compare to the South Dakota state average?
| Metric | Rapid City | South Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 723.8 | 455.0 | +59.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,792.1 | 2,476.1 | +53.1% |
| Murder Rate | 6.2 | 4.8 | +28.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,516.0 | 2,931.1 | +54.1% |
Rapid City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Rapid City, South Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 80,957 | 4,516.0 | 723.8 | 3,792.1 |
| 2023 | 80,850 | 4,640.7 | 743.4 | 3,897.3 |
| 2022 | 78,063 | 4,272.2 | 686.6 | 3,585.6 |
| 2021 | 79,910 | 3,890.6 | 674.5 | 3,216.1 |
| 2020 | 78,492 | 4,848.9 | 852.3 | 3,996.6 |
| 2019 | 76,343 | 3,924.4 | 710.0 | 3,214.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rapid City, South Dakota safe?
Rapid City has a safety score of 6/100, meaning it has less crime than about 6% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Rapid City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Rapid City, South Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Rapid City has a violent crime rate of 723.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,792.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average?
Rapid City's total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 80,957 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Rapid City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Rapid City include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Rapid City safe to visit?
Like any city, Rapid City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 6/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.