Top 10 most dangerous cities in South Carolina

South Carolina, known for its rich cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Charleston to the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, South Carolina faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in South Carolina are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between South Carolina's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in South Carolina involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. South Carolina's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Chester Population: 5,392 2,566 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 39 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,515

Chester, SC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in South Carolina with 2,566 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,394), robbery (38), rape (96) and homicide (38) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 422% higher than the South Carolina average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Dillon Population: 6,358 2,559 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 39 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,575

The second most dangerous city is Dillon. With a population of 6,358 and a violent crime rate that is 421% higher than the South Carolina average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Dillon are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,559 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 39 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Lake City Population: 6,562 2,069 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 48 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,819

Home to 6,562 residents, Lake City, SC ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in South Carolina. Unfortunately for residents of Lake City, crime is widespread, with more than 2,069 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.67 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 321% higher than the South Carolina violent crime rate.

Georgetown Population: 8,884 1,766 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,656

With a violent crime rate that is 259% higher than the South Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Georgetown made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (96), assault (1,574), rape (84) and homicide (12). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Georgetown more vulnerable to high crime.

Hartsville Population: 7,559 1,747 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,681

The ongoing battle with crime in Hartsville, SC, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,747 and a 1 in 57 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Hartsville has a violent crime rate that is 256% higher than the South Carolina average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Hartsville.

Orangeburg Population: 12,713 1,698 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,833

Orangeburg, SC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,698 per 100,000 people, which is 246% higher than the South Carolina average. Orangeburg has a population of 12,713, which translates to 4.65 crimes per day and 1 in 59 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Orangeburg which are much safer than others.

Darlington Population: 6,000 1,405 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 71 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,379

A 1 in 71 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.85 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Darlington makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,405 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 186% higher than the South Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,107), robbery (132), rape (50) and homicide (116).

Florence Population: 38,535 1,300 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 77 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,868

Florence, SC is another one of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 38,535 and a violent crime rate of 1,300 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,078 counts of assault, 123 counts of robbery, 48 counts of rape and 53 counts of homicide. All told, the Florence violent crime rate is 165% higher than the South Carolina average.

Bennettsville Population: 7,905 1,277 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,484

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Bennettsville, SC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in South Carolina with a violent crime rate of 1,277 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.50 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 78 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Clinton Population: 8,347 1,201 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,155

Rounding out our list at #10 is Clinton, SC. With a population of 8,347 and a violent crime rate of 1,201 per 100,000 people (144% higher than the South Carolina average), some parts of Clinton are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 979 counts of assault, 157 counts of robbery, 65 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 83 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Chester	5,392	2,566	5,515
2	Dillon	6,358	2,559	10,575
3	Lake City	6,562	2,069	5,819
4	Georgetown	8,884	1,766	6,656
5	Hartsville	7,559	1,747	8,681
6	Orangeburg	12,713	1,698	7,833
7	Darlington	6,000	1,405	8,379
8	Florence	38,535	1,300	6,868
9	Bennettsville	7,905	1,277	4,484
10	Clinton	8,347	1,201	5,155
11	Spartanburg	37,448	1,194	7,065
12	Cheraw	5,596	1,159	7,276
13	Camden	7,185	1,094	5,992
14	Union	7,716	1,091	6,494
15	Myrtle Beach	33,638	1,013	7,710
16	Marion	6,598	1,011	6,418
17	Cayce	13,964	1,007	5,011
18	Walterboro	5,417	957	8,266
19	North Charleston	113,880	942	5,748
20	Sumter	39,758	882	4,102
21	Greenwood	23,351	822	4,877
22	West Columbia	17,782	734	6,257
23	Batesburg-Leesville	5,504	724	4,344
24	York	8,287	690	4,621
25	Conway	24,747	685	3,402
26	Seneca	8,424	658	2,800
27	Newberry	10,219	647	3,417
28	Laurens	8,863	623	3,685
29	Moncks Corner	11,370	618	3,437
30	Anderson	27,387	616	6,494
31	Columbia	134,057	599	3,454
32	Aiken	31,428	594	4,074
33	Abbeville	5,014	575	2,506
34	Greenville	69,648	542	4,219
35	Rock Hill	74,410	479	3,159
36	Irmo	12,397	461	3,778
37	Fountain Inn	10,127	451	2,239
38	North Myrtle Beach	16,684	448	4,792
39	Hanahan	25,743	394	1,841
40	Charleston	137,041	375	2,264
41	Summerville	53,643	366	3,045
42	Gaffney	12,733	358	4,581
43	Easley	21,149	357	3,023
44	Forest Acres	10,300	333	3,957
45	Beaufort	13,417	331	3,376
46	Simpsonville	23,200	313	3,985
47	Mauldin	25,829	293	2,167
48	Goose Creek	42,944	279	2,068
49	Port Royal	13,265	261	1,512
50	Greer	32,229	254	2,268

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included South Carolina cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.