Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Spearfish, SD has a Safety Score of 38/100 — higher crime than 62% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,086.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,830 of 2,957 US cities and #8 of 13 in South Dakota.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Spearfish, SD?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Spearfish, South Dakota Safe?
Spearfish, nestled in the northern Black Hills, is home to Black Hills State University. Its population of around 12,000 enjoys proximity to Spearfish Canyon, a scenic byway.
Spearfish has a safety score of 38/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,086.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Spearfish ranks #8 out of 13 cities in South Dakota and #1830 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 38th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 62% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Spearfish is rape, at 102.5 per 100K — 2.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Spearfish's total crime rate decreased by 3.1%, with violent crime rising 40%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Spearfish Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 36 | 263.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 14 | 102.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 2 | 14.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 20 | 146.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 249 | 1,823.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 23 | 168.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 211 | 1,545.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 15 | 109.8 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Spearfish vs South Dakota Average
How does Spearfish's crime rate compare to the South Dakota state average?
| Metric | Spearfish | South Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 263.6 | 455.0 | -42.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,823.2 | 2,476.1 | -26.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,086.8 | 2,931.1 | -28.8% |
Spearfish Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Spearfish, South Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,657 | 2,086.8 | 263.6 | 1,823.2 |
| 2023 | 13,276 | 2,154.3 | 188.3 | 1,966.0 |
| 2022 | 12,517 | 2,612.5 | 247.7 | 2,364.8 |
| 2021 | 12,047 | 2,091.8 | 174.3 | 1,917.5 |
| 2020 | 11,902 | 2,873.5 | 294.1 | 2,579.4 |
| 2019 | 11,842 | 2,457.4 | 194.2 | 2,263.1 |
Spearfish Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Spearfish 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 Spearfish, South Dakota safe?
Spearfish has a safety score of 38/100, meaning it has less crime than about 38% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,086.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Spearfish is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Spearfish, South Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Spearfish has a violent crime rate of 263.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,823.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Spearfish compare to the national average?
Spearfish's total crime rate of 2,086.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 13,657 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Spearfish?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Spearfish are larceny-theft (211 reported incidents) and burglary (23 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.9x in the city.
Is Spearfish safe to visit?
Like any city, Spearfish has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 38/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.