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Charleston, SC vs New York City, NY Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charleston crime rate · New York City crime rate

Moving from Charleston, SC to New York City, NY?

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Is Charleston, SC or New York City, NY Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, SC is safer than New York City, NY (Safety Score 31/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City, NY — 22% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Charleston has a 77% lower rate.

Note: New York City is 52.9x 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

New York City — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC
Safety Score 31/100
Coverage 156,898
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3
Category Wins 5/7

New York City, NY

New York City, NY
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 8,299,271
Total Crime Rate 3,039.7
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charleston New York City Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 3,039.7 -660.5
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 671.4 -313.9
Murder Rate 4.5 3.9 +0.5
Rape Rate 28.0 23.4 +4.6
Robbery Rate 42.7 187.5 -144.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 456.2 -173.9
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 2,368.3 -346.6
Burglary Rate 139.6 154.7 -15.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 2,015.0 -358.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 198.5 +27.1

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

Moving from Charleston, SC to New York City, NY?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston or New York City safer?

Charleston, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City, NY — a 22% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. 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 New York City, NY

New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.

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