Is Box Elder or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Box Elder is safer than Phoenix (Safety Score 55/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100,000 versus 3,125 for Phoenix — 51% lower. Box Elder has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Box Elder has a 96% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 114.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Box Elder — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Box Elder, SD
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Box Elder | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,542.3 | 3,125.4 | -1,583.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.6 | 800.0 | -450.5 |
| Murder Rate | 6.9 | 8.4 | -1.5 |
| Rape Rate | 68.5 | 64.3 | +4.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 6.9 | 181.6 | -174.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 267.3 | 545.3 | -278.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,192.7 | 2,325.3 | -1,132.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 171.4 | 317.2 | -145.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 863.7 | 1,582.1 | -718.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 157.7 | 426.0 | -268.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Box Elder or Phoenix safer?
Box Elder is safer with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100K vs 3,125 for Phoenix — a 51% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Box Elder has a violent crime rate of 349.6 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Box Elder has lower violent crime.
About Box Elder, SD
Box Elder, South Dakota, a community near Ellsworth Air Force Base, is home to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. This growing town, part of the Rapid City metropolitan area, is situated in Pennington County. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 14,589, Box Elder has a total crime rate of 1,542.3 per 100,000 residents.
About Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.