South Dakota Crime Rate & Safety (2024)
FBI-verified crime statistics | Population: 479,100 | 0 reporting agencies
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Total Crime Rate
South Dakota Crime Overview
In 2024, South Dakota reported a total crime rate of 2,931.1 per 100,000 residents — 6% above the national average of 2,752.3. This ranks South Dakota #32 out of 50 states (safest first).
The most elevated crime category in South Dakota is rape at 1.3x the national rate.
Compared to the previous year, South Dakota's crime rate increased by 1.2%, with violent crime up 3%.
Within the state, Brandon is the safest city (crime rate: 448), while Rapid City has the highest rate (4,516).
Crime Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 2,180 | 455.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 23 | 4.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 268 | 55.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 192 | 40.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,691 | 353.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 11,863 | 2,476.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 1,223 | 255.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 9,201 | 1,920.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,439 | 300.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cities in South Dakota by Crime Rate
Cities ranked from safest to most dangerous (population 10,000+).
| # | City | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | 10,935 | 448.1 | 73.2 | 91/100 |
| 2 | Brookings | 24,638 | 1,266.3 | 89.3 | 76/100 |
| 3 | Watertown | 23,417 | 1,328.1 | 303.2 | 75/100 |
| 4 | Vermillion | 12,110 | 1,346.0 | 181.7 | 75/100 |
| 5 | Box Elder | 14,589 | 1,542.3 | 349.6 | 71/100 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 28,004 | 1,678.3 | 267.8 | 69/100 |
| 7 | Huron | 14,740 | 1,804.6 | 291.7 | 67/100 |
| 8 | Spearfish | 13,657 | 2,086.8 | 263.6 | 62/100 |
| 9 | Mitchell | 15,607 | 2,229.8 | 262.7 | 59/100 |
| 10 | Yankton | 15,698 | 2,248.7 | 280.3 | 59/100 |
| 11 | Pierre | 13,822 | 2,496.0 | 506.4 | 54/100 |
| 12 | Sioux Falls | 210,926 | 3,442.0 | 526.7 | 37/100 |
| 13 | Rapid City | 80,957 | 4,516.0 | 723.8 | 17/100 |
South Dakota Crime Rate Trends
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 479,100 | 2,931.1 | 455.0 | 2,476.1 |
| 2023 | 460,955 | 2,896.6 | 441.9 | 2,454.7 |
| 2022 | 460,053 | 3,072.9 | 469.3 | 2,603.6 |
| 2021 | 449,206 | 2,927.4 | 470.4 | 2,457.0 |
| 2020 | 442,559 | 3,399.6 | 559.5 | 2,840.1 |
| 2019 | 439,214 | 3,157.7 | 474.7 | 2,683.0 |
South Dakota vs Neighboring States
How does South Dakota's crime rate compare to its neighbors?
| State | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 2,931.1 | 455.0 | 2,476.1 | — |
| Wyoming | 2,136.2 | 257.6 | 1,878.7 | -27.1% |
| Iowa | 2,397.2 | 350.8 | 2,046.4 | -18.2% |
| Minnesota | 2,541.1 | 341.7 | 2,199.4 | -13.3% |
| Nebraska | 2,778.5 | 312.5 | 2,466.0 | -5.2% |
| North Dakota | 2,825.4 | 354.0 | 2,471.4 | -3.6% |
| Montana | 3,449.5 | 576.6 | 2,872.9 | +17.7% |
Among neighboring states, Wyoming has the lowest crime rate (2,136 per 100K). Montana has the highest (3,450 per 100K).