Is Aberdeen or Brookings Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Brookings is safer than Aberdeen (Safety Score 64/100 vs 50/100), with a total crime rate of 1,266 per 100,000 versus 1,678 for Aberdeen — 25% lower. Aberdeen has higher rates in 1 of 5 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Brookings has a 67% lower rate.
Aberdeen — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Brookings — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Aberdeen, SD
Brookings, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Aberdeen | Brookings | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,678.3 | 1,266.3 | +412.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 267.8 | 89.3 | +178.5 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 50.0 | 16.2 | +33.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 217.8 | 69.0 | +148.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,410.5 | 1,177.0 | +233.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 250.0 | 44.7 | +205.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,057.0 | 1,059.3 | -2.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 103.6 | 73.1 | +30.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen or Brookings safer?
Brookings is safer with a total crime rate of 1,266 per 100K vs 1,678 for Aberdeen — a 25% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Aberdeen has a violent crime rate of 267.8 per 100K while Brookings has 89.3. Brookings has lower violent crime.
About Aberdeen, SD
Aberdeen, a city named after its Scottish counterpart, is the county seat of Brown County in northeastern South Dakota. Home to Northern State University, it's a regional hub for commerce and healthcare. With a safety score of 50/100 and a population coverage of 28,004, Aberdeen has a total crime rate of 1,678.3 per 100,000 residents.
About Brookings, SD
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. With a safety score of 64/100 and a population coverage of 24,638, Brookings has a total crime rate of 1,266.3 per 100,000 residents.