D+
31%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
1%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
37%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleSummerville/100k peopleSouth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,566n/a (estimate)3,0452,8002,324
Murder2n/a3.911.26.3
Rape28n/a54.538.240.0
Robbery23n/a44.740.666.1
Assault135n/a262.5401.3268.2
Violent crime188n/a (estimate)366491370
Burglary118n/a229.5352.7269.8
Theft1,106n/a2,150.81,706.31,401.9
Vehicle theft154n/a299.5249.2282.7
Property crime1,378n/a (estimate)2,6802,3081,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Summerville, SC

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Summerville is 31% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Summerville, there were 188 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 366 per 100,000 individuals, 1.1% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 1378 property crimes, amounting to 2680 per 100,000 residents, 37.1% higher than the U.S. average.

Summerville exhibits a violent crime rate that closely echoes the national average reported by all cities, with 366 incidents per 100,000 people, in line with the nationwide figure of 370. This uniformity underscores Summerville as a community where safety standards align seamlessly with the broader national context, delivering residents a steadfast and dependable sense of security.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Summerville?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Summerville. Based on the results of the surveys (77 responses), 40% of people felt that there was very little crime in Summerville and felt safe walking alone at night. While 60% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Summerville a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Summerville is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Summerville has an overall crime rate that is 31% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 4.29 daily occurrences, comprising 0.52 violent crimes and 3.78 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Summerville as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Summerville Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Summerville. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Summerville has increased by 30.4%. Violent crimes have increased by 41.4%, while property crimes have increased by 29%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Summerville

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Summerville crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Summerville has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

Summerville has a population density of 2478.2 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Summerville crime rates.

The effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing initiatives can influence crime rates. A strong and collaborative relationship between the police and the community can deter criminal activity and improve safety. In Summerville, there are 2.01 police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3.25. The effectiveness of law enforcement often depends on community policing strategies that emphasize building trust and cooperation between the police and the community. It's not just about the number of officers but also how they engage with the community.

Summerville crime map



The Summerville crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Summerville as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Summerville crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Summerville crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Summerville, SC Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Summerville crime rates are 31% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Summerville are 1% lower than the national average
      • In Summerville you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Summerville is safer than 23% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Summerville has increased by 38%

      Summerville, SC Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Summerville

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        See all Summerville poll results

        Daily Crime In Summerville (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Summerville, SC per 100,000 people. In Summerville, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.09 times more than the South Carolina average and 1.31 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Summerville is 1.34 times less than the South Carolina average and 1.01 times less than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Summerville has a daily crime rate that is 1.16 times more than the South Carolina average and 1.37 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Summerville (higher is better)

        How safe is Summerville, South Carolina compared to other cities in South Carolina and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Summerville is safer than 56% of the cities in South Carolina and 23% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in South Carolina and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Summerville. Overall, Summerville is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Summerville

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Summerville is 1 in 274
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Summerville is 1 in 38
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Summerville is 1 in 33
        Wondering what the chances are that you fall victim to a crime in Summerville? In Summerville, SC you have a 1 in 274 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Summerville.

        Year Over Year Crime In Summerville (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Summerville is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Summerville has increased by 50%, while the property crime rate in Summerville has increased by 37% year over year. The number of total crimes in Summerville has increased by 38% year over year.

        Summerville police department

        Item Summerville South Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)915,812558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.05.13.3
        There are a total of 91 Summerville police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 60.3% less than the South Carolina average and 38.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in South Carolina

        State Total offenders South Carolina /100K National /100K
        South Carolina15,193377266
        There are a total of 15,193 sex offenders in South Carolina. This yields a total of 377 sex offenders in South Carolina per 100,000 residents which is 42% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Ridgeville, SC1,849000
        Lincolnville, SC2,4292301,0801,310
        Hanahan, SC25,7433941,4471,841
        Goose Creek, SC42,9442791,7892,068
        Sangaree, SC9,2494812,2592,740
        Ladson, SC15,2525692,6763,245
        Moncks Corner, SC11,3706182,8193,437
        Summerville, SC53,6433662,6803,045

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Kingsport, TN53,6997874,0704,857
        West Sacramento, CA53,5741731,0011,174
        Aloha, OR53,7244193,6004,019
        Harrisonburg, VA53,5582511,8092,060
        Apple Valley, MN53,7282431,6361,879
        Summerville, SC53,6433662,6803,045
        Source: The Summerville, SC crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.