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

14/100

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 County67/100
McCormick County63/100
Dorchester County57/100
Saluda County54/100
Pickens County48/100
Beaufort County22/100
York County20/100
Newberry County20/100
Abbeville County17/100
Jasper County17/100
Allendale County16/100
Lancaster County15/100
Richland County14/100
Charleston County14/100
Georgetown County12/100
Aiken County12/100
Hampton County11/100
Calhoun County11/100
Kershaw County11/100
Chester County11/100
Oconee County11/100
Spartanburg County10/100
Greenville County10/100
Laurens County10/100
Cherokee County9/100
Fairfield County9/100
Horry County8/100
Williamsburg County8/100
Bamberg County8/100
Greenwood County8/100
Lee County7/100
Barnwell County6/100
Chesterfield County5/100
Marion County5/100
Sumter County5/100
Colleton County5/100
Marlboro County4/100
Union County4/100
Anderson County3/100
Clarendon County3/100
Berkeley County3/100
Florence County2/100
Lexington County2/100
Darlington County2/100
Orangeburg County2/100
Dillon County2/100

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

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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.

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