crimebycounty

South Carolina Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 46 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

581.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

2340.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

95/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in South Carolina

National Context

South Carolina Faces Higher-Than-Average Crime Rates

South Carolina reports an average total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 residents, which significantly exceeds the national average of 2,385.5. This data places the state toward the higher end of the national crime spectrum, requiring a closer look at regional variations.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Offenses Dominate the State Crime Landscape

Property crime makes up the bulk of incidents at 2,339.9 per 100,000 residents, noticeably higher than the national average of 2,015.7. The state's violent crime rate of 580.8 per 100,000 also tracks well above the national benchmark of 369.8.

Safest Counties

Edgefield and McCormick Counties Lead in Safety

Edgefield County stands out as the safest in the state with a total crime rate of just 771.5 per 100,000 residents. McCormick and Dorchester counties also maintain rates under 1,000, providing some of the most secure environments in the region.

Crime Hotspots

Higher Activity Clusters in Dillon and Orangeburg

Dillon and Orangeburg counties report the state's highest crime rates, with both exceeding 5,000 incidents per 100,000 people. Darlington County rounds out the top three hotspots at 4,982.1, highlighting areas where law enforcement and community resources face the highest demand.

The Takeaway

A State Defined by Sharp Regional Differences

South Carolina presents a complex safety profile where state-level averages often mask the high levels of security found in rural pockets like Edgefield. Residents and prospective movers should prioritize county-specific data, as property crime remains the primary driver of public safety trends.

All South Carolina Counties

CountySafety Score
Edgefield County99/100
McCormick County99/100
Dorchester County98/100
Saluda County98/100
Pickens County98/100
Beaufort County97/100
Newberry County97/100
York County97/100
Abbeville County97/100
Jasper County96/100
Allendale County96/100
Lancaster County96/100
Richland County96/100
Charleston County96/100
Aiken County96/100
Georgetown County96/100
Hampton County96/100
Calhoun County96/100
Chester County96/100
Kershaw County96/100
Oconee County96/100
Spartanburg County96/100
Greenville County96/100
Cherokee County96/100
Laurens County96/100
Fairfield County95/100
Horry County95/100
Bamberg County95/100
Williamsburg County95/100
Greenwood County95/100
Lee County95/100
Barnwell County95/100
Chesterfield County95/100
Colleton County95/100
Marion County95/100
Sumter County95/100
Marlboro County94/100
Union County94/100
Anderson County94/100
Clarendon County94/100
Berkeley County93/100
Florence County93/100
Lexington County93/100
Darlington County92/100
Orangeburg County92/100
Dillon County92/100

Crime rates per 100K population. — = data pending.

Concerned about home security?

SimpliSafe offers 24/7 professional monitoring with no contracts required.

Get Protected →

Sponsored

Data Sources

Crime data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) and County Health Rankings. Safety scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Not legal or security advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.

← Back to All States

Explore more data for South Carolina

Property TaxCost of LivingComing SoonIncomeComing SoonHealthSchoolsRiskWaterWeatherCounty Score