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.

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Dillon Population: 6,358 2,372 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 42 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,038

Dillon, SC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in South Carolina with 2,372 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,260), robbery (80), rape (32) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 443% 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 1,802 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 55 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,552

The second most dangerous city is Lake City. With a population of 6,562 and a violent crime rate that is 313% 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 1,802 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 1,746 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,591

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 1,746 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.78 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 300% higher than the South Carolina violent crime rate.

Chester Population: 5,392 1,554 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,835

With a violent crime rate that is 256% higher than the South Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Chester made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (77), assault (1,285), rape (115) and homicide (77). 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 Chester more vulnerable to high crime.

Spartanburg Population: 37,448 1,480 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,709

The ongoing battle with crime in Spartanburg, 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 1,480 and a 1 in 68 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Spartanburg has a violent crime rate that is 239% 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 Spartanburg.

Clinton Population: 8,347 1,279 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,308

Clinton, SC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,279 per 100,000 people, which is 193% higher than the South Carolina average. Clinton has a population of 8,347, which translates to 3.50 crimes per day and 1 in 78 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 Clinton which are much safer than others.

Orangeburg Population: 12,713 1,246 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,455

A 1 in 80 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.41 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Orangeburg makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,246 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 185% higher than the South Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,006), robbery (188), rape (23) and homicide (30).

Cheraw Population: 5,596 1,164 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,447

Cheraw, SC is another one of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,596 and a violent crime rate of 1,164 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 863 counts of assault, 100 counts of robbery, 100 counts of rape and 100 counts of homicide. All told, the Cheraw violent crime rate is 166% higher than the South Carolina average.

Darlington Population: 6,000 1,131 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,018

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, Darlington, SC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in South Carolina with a violent crime rate of 1,131 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.10 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Myrtle Beach Population: 33,638 1,112 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,767

Rounding out our list at #10 is Myrtle Beach, SC. With a population of 33,638 and a violent crime rate of 1,112 per 100,000 people (155% higher than the South Carolina average), some parts of Myrtle Beach are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 741 counts of assault, 173 counts of robbery, 185 counts of rape and 12 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 90 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	2,372	9,038
2	Lake City	6,562	1,802	6,552
3	Hartsville	7,559	1,746	6,591
4	Chester	5,392	1,554	4,835
5	Spartanburg	37,448	1,480	6,709
6	Clinton	8,347	1,279	5,308
7	Orangeburg	12,713	1,246	7,455
8	Cheraw	5,596	1,164	8,447
9	Darlington	6,000	1,131	7,018
10	Myrtle Beach	33,638	1,112	6,767
11	Sumter	39,758	1,098	4,804
12	Lancaster	9,187	1,064	7,243
13	Walterboro	5,417	1,006	6,386
14	Bennettsville	7,905	995	4,557
15	Union	7,716	975	7,530
16	Camden	7,185	948	4,809
17	Laurens	8,863	928	3,930
18	Marion	6,598	882	6,190
19	Georgetown	8,884	850	4,454
20	North Charleston	113,880	810	4,766
21	Florence	38,535	807	4,725
22	Batesburg-Leesville	5,504	772	3,541
23	Columbia	134,057	770	4,003
24	West Columbia	17,782	748	5,185
25	Cayce	13,964	734	3,515
26	York	8,287	726	3,790
27	Beaufort	13,417	696	4,269
28	Greenville	69,648	644	4,113
29	Seneca	8,424	615	2,339
30	Newberry	10,219	586	3,698
31	Aiken	31,428	569	4,527
32	Anderson	27,387	561	6,265
33	Greenwood	23,351	485	3,808
34	Conway	24,747	445	2,419
35	Rock Hill	74,410	441	2,789
36	Abbeville	5,014	370	1,686
37	North Myrtle Beach	16,684	361	3,583
38	Charleston	137,041	358	2,379
39	Greer	32,229	344	2,072
40	Moncks Corner	11,370	336	2,358
41	Forest Acres	10,300	291	3,696
42	Travelers Rest	7,947	264	2,751
43	Goose Creek	42,944	256	1,722
44	Easley	21,149	239	2,035
45	Irmo	12,397	238	1,807
46	Gaffney	12,733	226	4,404
47	Hanahan	25,743	225	1,644
48	Summerville	53,643	222	1,990
49	Mauldin	25,829	219	1,600
50	Simpsonville	23,200	214	2,822

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.