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Charleston, SC vs Greenville, SC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charleston crime rate · Greenville crime rate

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Is Charleston, SC or Greenville, SC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, SC is safer than Greenville, SC (Safety Score 31/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100,000 versus 4,114 for Greenville, SC — 42% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Charleston has a 53% lower rate.

Note: Charleston is 2.1x 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

Greenville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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

Greenville, SC

Greenville, SC
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 73,405
Total Crime Rate 4,114.2
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charleston Greenville Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 4,114.2 -1,734.9
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 645.7 -288.2
Murder Rate 4.5 9.5 -5.1
Rape Rate 28.0 30.0 -1.9
Robbery Rate 42.7 64.0 -21.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 540.8 -258.5
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 3,468.4 -1,446.7
Burglary Rate 139.6 303.8 -164.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 2,858.1 -1,201.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 306.5 -80.9

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

Moving from Charleston, SC to Greenville, 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 Greenville safer?

Charleston, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100K vs 4,114 for Greenville, SC — a 42% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while Greenville has 645.7. 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 Greenville, SC

Greenville, a city in the Upstate region, boasts a revitalized downtown along the Reedy River. It’s known for its textile industry heritage and a growing population of over 70,000 residents. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 73,405, Greenville has a total crime rate of 4,114.2 per 100,000 residents.

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