Is Aberdeen or Vermillion Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Vermillion is safer than Aberdeen (Safety Score 61/100 vs 50/100), with a total crime rate of 1,346 per 100,000 versus 1,678 for Aberdeen — 20% lower. Aberdeen has higher rates in 1 of 5 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Vermillion has a 32% lower rate.
Note: Aberdeen is 2.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Aberdeen — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Vermillion — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Aberdeen, SD
Vermillion, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Aberdeen | Vermillion | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,678.3 | 1,346.0 | +332.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 267.8 | 181.7 | +86.2 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 50.0 | 49.6 | +0.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 217.8 | 132.1 | +85.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,410.5 | 1,164.3 | +246.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 250.0 | 49.6 | +200.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,057.0 | 982.7 | +74.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 103.6 | 132.1 | -28.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen or Vermillion safer?
Vermillion is safer with a total crime rate of 1,346 per 100K vs 1,678 for Aberdeen — a 20% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Aberdeen has a violent crime rate of 267.8 per 100K while Vermillion has 181.7. Vermillion 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 Vermillion, SD
Vermillion, home to the University of South Dakota, is a small city in southeastern South Dakota, near the Missouri River. Its population of around 11,000 is largely influenced by the university. The National Music Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is a prominent cultural institution. With a safety score of 61/100 and a population coverage of 12,110, Vermillion has a total crime rate of 1,346.0 per 100,000 residents.