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Charleston, SC vs Florence, SC Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Charleston crime rate · Florence crime rate

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Is Charleston, SC or Florence, SC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, SC is safer than Florence, SC (Safety Score 31/100 vs 4/100), with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100,000 versus 4,725 for Florence, SC — 50% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Charleston has a 70% lower rate.

Note: Charleston is 3.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Charleston, SC?

Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Florence — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC
Safety Score 31/100
Coverage 156,898
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3
Category Wins 7/7

Florence, SC

Florence, SC
Safety Score 4/100
Coverage 40,781
Total Crime Rate 4,725.2
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charleston Florence Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 4,725.2 -2,346.0
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 806.8 -449.2
Murder Rate 4.5 14.7 -10.3
Rape Rate 28.0 34.3 -6.3
Robbery Rate 42.7 56.4 -13.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 701.3 -419.0
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 3,918.5 -1,896.8
Burglary Rate 139.6 306.5 -166.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 3,271.1 -1,614.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 340.9 -115.2

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Charleston, SC to Florence, SC?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston or Florence safer?

Charleston, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100K vs 4,725 for Florence, SC — a 50% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while Florence has 806.8. Charleston has lower violent crime.

About Charleston, SC

Charleston, a historic port city founded in 1670, boasts cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture. Situated on a peninsula, its population is predominantly white, with a significant Black community contributing to its rich Lowcountry culture. With a safety score of 31/100 and a population coverage of 156,898, Charleston has a total crime rate of 2,379.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Florence, SC

Florence, South Carolina, a Pee Dee region hub, grew around its railroad heritage. It is the largest city in Florence County, with a diverse population of over 38,000 residents. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 40,781, Florence has a total crime rate of 4,725.2 per 100,000 residents.

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