Is Box Elder or Sioux Falls Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Box Elder is safer than Sioux Falls (Safety Score 55/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100,000 versus 3,442 for Sioux Falls — 55% lower. Box Elder has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Box Elder has a 86% lower rate.
Note: Sioux Falls is 14.5x 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
Sioux Falls — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Box Elder, SD
Sioux Falls, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Box Elder | Sioux Falls | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,542.3 | 3,442.0 | -1,899.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.6 | 526.7 | -177.2 |
| Murder Rate | 6.9 | 6.6 | +0.2 |
| Rape Rate | 68.5 | 28.0 | +40.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 6.9 | 47.4 | -40.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 267.3 | 444.7 | -177.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,192.7 | 2,915.2 | -1,722.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 171.4 | 303.0 | -131.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 863.7 | 2,174.7 | -1,311.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 157.7 | 437.6 | -279.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Box Elder or Sioux Falls safer?
Box Elder is safer with a total crime rate of 1,542 per 100K vs 3,442 for Sioux Falls — a 55% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Box Elder has a violent crime rate of 349.6 per 100K while Sioux Falls has 526.7. 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 Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls, named for the Big Sioux River and its waterfalls, is South Dakota's largest city. It's a regional hub for healthcare and finance, with a growing population of over 200,000 residents. The city's economy has historically been tied to agriculture. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 210,926, Sioux Falls has a total crime rate of 3,442.0 per 100,000 residents.