Watertown, SD Crime Rates: Stats & Map

B

23%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

41%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

20%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

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.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Watertown_{/100k people}	South Dakota_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	406	n/a (estimate)	1,778	2,114	2,324
Murder	0	n/a	0.0	4.3	6.3
Rape	21	n/a	92.0	55.8	40.0
Robbery	1	n/a	4.4	25.3	66.1
Assault	28	n/a	122.6	292.0	268.2
Violent crime	50	n/a (estimate)	219	377	370
Burglary	68	n/a	297.8	263.0	269.8
Theft	257	n/a	1,125.6	1,231.8	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	31	n/a	135.8	242.2	282.7
Property crime	356	n/a (estimate)	1,559	1,737	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Watertown, SD

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Watertown is 23.5% lower 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 Watertown, there were 50 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 219 per 100,000 individuals, 40.8% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 356 property crimes, amounting to 1559 per 100,000 residents, 20.2% lower than the U.S. average.

In the latest reported crime year, Watertown recorded zero homicides. This statistic potentially positions the city as a paragon of security, radiating a profound sense of safety for its residents. A low number of severe violent crimes instills a deep feeling of well-being among its community but also establishes a lofty benchmark for other locales aspiring to foster equally secure environments.

Is Watertown a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Watertown is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Watertown has a total crime rate that is 23% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 1.11 daily crimes (0.14 violent daily crimes and 0.98 daily property crimes) in Watertown.

Has Crime in Watertown Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Watertown. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Watertown has increased by 15.7%. Violent crimes have didn't change by 0%, while property crimes have increased by 18.3%. 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 Watertown

In Watertown, the current unemployment rate stands at 2%, diverging from the national average of 4.7%. The availability of job opportunities is a pivotal factor influencing unemployment and underemployment rates. Communities where individuals contend with limited employment prospects or a preponderance of low-wage positions may witness elevated rates of joblessness and income inadequacy, which can contribute to heightened crime levels driven by financial insecurity. Conversely, areas characterized by robust employment rates often experience a reduction in overall Watertown crime rates.

Watertown has a population density of 1224.1 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Watertown crime rates.

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Watertown, 88.1% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

Watertown crime map

The Watertown crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Watertown 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 Watertown crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Watertown 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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Crime Quick Facts

Watertown crime rates are 23% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Watertown are 41% lower than the national average
In Watertown you have a 1 in 57 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Watertown is safer than 48% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Watertown has increased by 13%

Watertown, SD Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Watertown (per 100,000 people)

The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Watertown on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of South Dakota and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Watertown (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to South Dakota, are 1.19 times less than the state average and 1.31 times less than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Watertown on a daily basis are 1.72 times less than than South Dakota average and 1.69 times less than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Watertown are 1.11 times less than the daily state average and 1.25 times less than the daily national numbers.

How Safe is Watertown (higher is better)

Are people any safer living in Watertown in comparison to other South Dakota communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Watertown safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Watertown being safer than 62% of cities in South Dakota and 48% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking South Dakota cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Watertown. In conclusion, Watertown ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Watertown

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Watertown is 1 in 457

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Watertown is 1 in 65

The chance of being a victim of crime in Watertown is 1 in 57

Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Watertown? If you reside in Watertown, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 457. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 65 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Watertown, is 1 in 57.

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

A good indicator of whether Watertown 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 Watertown has decreased by 2%, while the property crime rate in Watertown has increased by 16% year over year. The number of total crimes in Watertown has increased by 13% year over year.

Watertown police department

Item	Watertown	South Dakota	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	51	995	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	2.3	2.2	3.3

There are a total of 51 Watertown police officers. This results in 2.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 4.4% greater than the South Dakota average and 28.4% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in South Dakota

State	Total offenders	South Dakota_/100K	National_/100K
South Dakota	n/a	n/a	n/a

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Castlewood, SD	582	441	2,031	2,472
Kranzburg, SD	199	451	2,079	2,530
Goodwin, SD	102	457	2,104	2,561
Florence, SD	371	488	2,250	2,738
Hazel, SD	143	501	2,306	2,807
South Shore, SD	256	552	2,545	3,098
Watertown, SD	22,249	219	1,559	1,778

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Hudson, OH	22,249	26	419	445
Prairie Village, KS	22,255	145	1,331	1,476
Mustang, OK	22,228	163	931	1,094
Frederickson, WA	22,290	475	4,238	4,713
Waynesboro, VA	22,300	227	1,873	2,100
Watertown, SD	22,249	219	1,559	1,778

Source: The Watertown, SD 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.