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Charleston, SC vs Gaffney, SC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charleston crime rate · Gaffney crime rate

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Is Charleston, SC or Gaffney, SC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, SC is safer than Gaffney, SC (Safety Score 31/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100,000 versus 4,404 for Gaffney, SC — 46% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Charleston has a 72% lower rate.

Note: Charleston is 12.7x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Charleston, SC?

Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Gaffney — 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 5/7

Gaffney, SC

Gaffney, SC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 12,399
Total Crime Rate 4,403.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charleston Gaffney Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 4,403.6 -2,024.3
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 225.8 +131.7
Murder Rate 4.5 16.1 -11.7
Rape Rate 28.0 56.5 -28.4
Robbery Rate 42.7 16.1 +26.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 137.1 +145.2
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 4,177.8 -2,156.1
Burglary Rate 139.6 645.2 -505.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 3,137.4 -1,480.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 395.2 -169.6

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

Moving from Charleston, SC to Gaffney, SC?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston or Gaffney safer?

Charleston, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100K vs 4,404 for Gaffney, SC — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while Gaffney has 225.8. Gaffney 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 Gaffney, SC

Gaffney, SC, home to the iconic Peachoid water tower, sits in Cherokee County. This small Southern town, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson combined statistical area. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 12,399, Gaffney has a total crime rate of 4,403.6 per 100,000 residents.

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