Is Fort Smith or Rapid City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Rapid City is safer than Fort Smith (Safety Score 6/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 4,516 per 100,000 versus 4,528 for Fort Smith — 0% lower. Fort Smith has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Fort Smith has a 100% lower rate.
Fort Smith — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Rapid City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Smith, AR
Rapid City, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Smith | Rapid City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,527.8 | 4,516.0 | +11.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 843.6 | 723.8 | +119.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.2 | -6.2 |
| Rape Rate | 90.0 | 135.9 | -45.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 65.6 | 103.8 | -38.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 686.8 | 473.1 | +213.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,684.3 | 3,792.1 | -107.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 466.8 | 427.4 | +39.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,904.1 | 2,986.8 | -82.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 313.4 | 378.0 | -64.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Smith or Rapid City safer?
Rapid City is safer with a total crime rate of 4,516 per 100K vs 4,528 for Fort Smith — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Smith has a violent crime rate of 843.6 per 100K while Rapid City has 723.8. Rapid City has lower violent crime.
About Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith, once a frontier military post, sits on the Arkansas River bordering Oklahoma. This city of over 89,000 residents is the second-largest urban area in Arkansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 89,977, Fort Smith has a total crime rate of 4,527.8 per 100,000 residents.
About Rapid City, SD
Rapid City, nestled at the foot of the Black Hills, is a gateway to Mount Rushmore. This city in western South Dakota has a population of over 78,000, making it the second largest in the state. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 80,957, Rapid City has a total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 residents.