Top 10 most dangerous cities in South Carolina

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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.

Dillon Population: 6,358 1,873 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,011

Dillon, SC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in South Carolina with 1,873 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,713), robbery (64), rape (0) and homicide (96) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 298% 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.

Lake City Population: 6,562 1,824 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 55 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,008

The second most dangerous city is Lake City. With a population of 6,562 and a violent crime rate that is 287% higher than the South Carolina average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Lake City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,824 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 55 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Hartsville Population: 7,559 1,807 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 55 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,849

Home to 7,559 residents, Hartsville, SC ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in South Carolina. Unfortunately for residents of Hartsville, crime is widespread, with more than 1,807 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.95 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 284% higher than the South Carolina violent crime rate.

Spartanburg Population: 37,448 1,592 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 63 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,185

With a violent crime rate that is 238% higher than the South Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Spartanburg made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (161), assault (1,351), rape (62) and homicide (18). 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 Spartanburg more vulnerable to high crime.

Walterboro Population: 5,417 1,581 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 63 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,748

The ongoing battle with crime in Walterboro, 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 1,581 and a 1 in 63 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Walterboro has a violent crime rate that is 236% 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 Walterboro.

Orangeburg Population: 12,713 1,570 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,997

Orangeburg, SC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,570 per 100,000 people, which is 233% higher than the South Carolina average. Orangeburg has a population of 12,713, which translates to 4.30 crimes per day and 1 in 64 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 1,542 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 65 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,032

A 1 in 65 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 4.23 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 1,542 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 227% higher than the South Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,194), robbery (199), rape (66) and homicide (83).

Bennettsville Population: 7,905 1,376 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,548

Bennettsville, SC is another one of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,905 and a violent crime rate of 1,376 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,116 counts of assault, 199 counts of robbery, 46 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. All told, the Bennettsville violent crime rate is 192% higher than the South Carolina average.

Florence Population: 38,535 1,156 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,615

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, Florence, SC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in South Carolina with a violent crime rate of 1,156 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.17 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 87 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Camden Population: 7,185 1,068 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,017

Rounding out our list at #10 is Camden, SC. With a population of 7,185 and a violent crime rate of 1,068 per 100,000 people (127% higher than the South Carolina average), some parts of Camden are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 985 counts of assault, 24 counts of robbery, 59 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 94 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	Dillon	6,358	1,873	7,011
2	Lake City	6,562	1,824	6,008
3	Hartsville	7,559	1,807	7,849
4	Spartanburg	37,448	1,592	8,185
5	Walterboro	5,417	1,581	8,748
6	Orangeburg	12,713	1,570	7,997
7	Darlington	6,000	1,542	7,032
8	Bennettsville	7,905	1,376	5,548
9	Florence	38,535	1,156	5,615
10	Camden	7,185	1,068	6,017
11	Union	7,716	1,046	9,245
12	Myrtle Beach	33,638	1,002	6,889
13	Marion	6,598	982	6,434
14	North Charleston	113,880	924	5,598
15	Cheraw	5,596	907	5,741
16	Sumter	39,758	886	4,834
17	Clinton	8,347	785	5,294
18	Columbia	134,057	757	4,223
19	Lancaster	9,187	745	6,602
20	Laurens	8,863	725	3,723
21	Greenwood	23,351	674	4,642
22	West Columbia	17,782	649	5,156
23	Greenville	69,648	607	4,345
24	Newberry	10,219	605	3,276
25	Anderson	27,387	598	5,959
26	York	8,287	552	3,829
27	Rock Hill	74,410	511	3,184
28	Beaufort	13,417	501	4,207
29	Batesburg-Leesville	5,504	475	2,848
30	North Myrtle Beach	16,684	448	4,458
31	Forest Acres	10,300	435	3,560
32	Summerville	53,643	432	3,517
33	Moncks Corner	11,370	411	2,972
34	Charleston	137,041	402	2,379
35	Seneca	8,424	398	1,969
36	Conway	24,747	378	2,230
37	Fountain Inn	10,127	330	1,657
38	Aiken	31,428	322	3,762
39	Easley	21,149	278	2,383
40	Goose Creek	42,944	267	1,769
41	Simpsonville	23,200	232	2,988
42	Abbeville	5,014	226	1,997
43	Travelers Rest	7,947	226	3,390
44	Hanahan	25,743	196	1,639
45	Clover	6,370	180	1,134
46	Mauldin	25,829	171	2,384
47	Hardeeville	6,788	160	1,981
48	Mount Pleasant	89,410	144	1,442
49	Port Royal	13,265	142	1,362
50	Clemson	16,917	106	2,073

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.