The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina For 2023


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Palmetto State for 2023.

Most dangerous cities in South Carolina research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in South Carolina based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in South Carolina is Orangeburg based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in South Carolina is 2,059 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in South Carolina is 5,901 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in South Carolina is Fort Mill.

  • South Carolina is the 3rd most dangerous state in the United States.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References


As if there isn’t enough to worry about with unruly Ravenels in Charleston and vicious alligators on Hilton Head Island, there are also super dangerous places in the Palmetto State.

South Carolina is, after all, the sixth most dangerous states in the country, so no one should really be too surprised. And because RoadSnacks thinks it’s important to provide important information to the public, we created a list of the most dangerous places in South Carolina for 2023.

How’d we determine the most dangerous places in South Carolina? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 59 cities. We looked at the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents.

Some might say it’s because of drugs and alcohol, some might say the state needs to offer better jobs with competitive salaries, and some might say that it’s just people being people; any way you look at it, the numbers don’t lie. The state’s violent crime and property crime numbers are above the national average and climbing.

Let’s be real, we’re not talking about driving a boat without life jackets kind of danger. The type of danger we’re talking about gets people on Dillon’s WPDE at six. Folks, the cities that made our list have robberies happening in broad daylight, car jackings, and daily shootings. There are neighborhoods in these cities that you shouldn’t drive thru, ever.

Want to know the South Carolina places where jobs are scarce, wages low, crime high-where your Southern Charm will get you absolutely nowhere? Keep reading.

The Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina For 2023

  1. Orangeburg
  2. Spartanburg
  3. Walterboro
  4. Hartsville
  5. Myrtle Beach
  6. Darlington
  7. Florence
  8. Camden
  9. Lake City
  10. Gaffney

Yes, there are about 260 police officers per 100,000 residents, but they just can’t be everywhere. So, cities like Myrtle Beach and Greenwood are starting to feel the effects; but the place that’s getting hit the worst, is South Carolina’s most dangerous place, Orangeburg.

So, if you want to know the top ten most dangerous South Carolina places–where you shouldn’t let your kids out after dark–take a look at the list below. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in South Carolina.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Carolina For 2023

On the surface, Orangeburg has a lot going for it. It’s nickname as “The Garden City” shows what locals like to think of their hometown. Meanwhile, the community also provides a home to multiple institutions of higher learning in South Carolina State University and Claflin University.

However, this city in the central part of the state has its less appealing side. That includes a high crime rate. In fact, Orangeburg endures the number 1 highest pace of violent crime in the state. This includes 228 assaults in a population of 12,335.

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 12,335
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,059 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,901 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Orangeburg:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Orangeburg, SC

This. Is. Spartansburg! Located in “The Upstate” of South Carolina’s northwest, this city of 37,375 isn’t quite as hardcore as the Sparta of yore, but it’s still the second most dangerous place to live in South Carolina for 2023.

The city does a good job of preserving nature at the Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, but we’re pretty sure residents would like local leaders to preserve the safety of the human population as well.

More than one burglary a day goes down in Spartansburg on average, which gives the city the highest burglary rate in South Carolina. And with 584 violent crimes recorded in data year 2021, no one will blame you for keeping your guard up in Spartansburg.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 37,375
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,562 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,282 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Spartanburg:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Spartanburg, SC

Walterboro, located in Colleton County, South Carolina, ranks as the third most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. This ranking is based on various crime statistics, including a high number of violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

While it is important to acknowledge the dangerous nature of Walterboro, it is equally crucial to recognize that the situation can improve with concerted efforts and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community. By focusing on crime prevention strategies and providing adequate resources to the police force, Walterboro has the potential to become a safer place to reside.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 5,303
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 9)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,263 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,524 (Second most dangerous)
More on Walterboro:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Walterboro, SC

Hartsville held onto its #4 position on our list of South Carolina’s most dangerous places for yet another year. Crime has stayed level in Hartsville, which is bad news when you’ve got the seventh highest property crime rate in the state.

There are about two burglaries a week in Hartsville, which is frequent enough to give the city the ninth highest burglary rate in South Carolina. We recommend padlocking your picnic basket if you’re out at Kalmia Gardens, because ten thefts a week go down in Hartsville.

And while Hartsville didn’t record a single murder in 2021, it still had the fourth highest rate of violent crime in South Carolina.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 7,454
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,448 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,647 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Hartsville:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Hartsville, SC

Ah, Myrtle Beach, a favorite of East Coast vacationers. While Myrtle Beach’s violent crime rate has been steadily decreasing, its property crime rates remain the highest in South Carolina.

Folks in Myrtle Beach had a 1 in 12 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2021, making Broadway at the Beach one of the few places where it’s not a bad idea to wear a wallet chain.

In fact, with the prevalence of property crime, Myrtle Beach has the highest overall crime rate in South Carolina, outstripping the national average by a whopping 365%.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 36,543
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,234 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,362 (Most dangerous)
More on Myrtle Beach:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Myrtle Beach, SC

Source: Public domain

Known for its tobacco farms and NASCAR races, Darlington ranks as South Carolina’s sixth most dangerous city for 2023. Darlington saw a increase in property crime compared to last year, a big reason the city moved down 3 spots on this list.

Darlington averaged more than one car theft per month over the year, but fortunately, none were race cars from the Darlington Raceway. Good thing, or the carjacker would be mighty hard to catch up with.

Violent crime also ranked as the fifth highest in South Carolina, which includes the 50th highest rate of rape cases statewide. Overall, residents had a 1 in 70 chance of being attacked over 2021.

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 5,856
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,417 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,379 (11th most dangerous)
More on Darlington:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Darlington, SC

The core of the Pee Dee region in northeastern South Carolina, Florence comes in as the seventh least safe place to live. Florence recorded the 18th highest burglary rate statewide, averaging just over one break-in per day.

We just hope they have enough security at the Florence County Museum to stop any would-be heisters.

Violent crime is also all too prevalent in Florence, which experienced 526 such crimes over 2021. It’s also one of the few places listed here that’s seen a rise in both categories of crime.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 38,521
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,365 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,381 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Florence:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Florence, SC

Camden, located in Kershaw County, South Carolina, ranks as the eighth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. This ranking is based on the crime statistics of the city. With a population of 7,335, Camden has reported 97 violent crimes. Additionally, property crimes have been a concern, with a total of 367 incidents reported, including 49 burglaries.

The crime rate in Camden is a cause for concern and contributes to its reputation as a dangerous place to live. Residents face significant safety challenges, with a violent crime rate of 1,322/100k people and a property crime rate of 5,003/100k people.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,335
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 5)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,322 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,003 (16th most dangerous)
More on Camden:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Camden, SC

Good news, bad news situation with Lake City, South Carolina’s ninth most dangerous place to call home in 2023. On the plus side, Lake City’s property crime rate is the lowest on this list. So you don’t have to worry much about someone picking your pocket while you’re gawking at Lake City’s all the murals and public art.

The bad news? Lake City residents had a 1 in 56 shot of being the victim of a violent attack in 2021. That represents a jump from last year — yikes. Most of the violent crimes were just aggravated assaults, but we’re pretty sure that won’t make the victims feel any better about it.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 6,541
Rank Last Year:
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,773 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,990 (24th most dangerous)
More on Lake City:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Lake City, SC

Gaffney, located in Cherokee County, ranked as the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state. With a population of approximately 12,528, Gaffney has a concerning crime rate that contributes to its reputation as a dangerous area.

These crime statistics highlight the safety concerns within the city and emphasize the need for increased measures to address and prevent criminal activities.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 12,528
Rank Last Year:
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 838 (19th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,411 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Gaffney:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Gaffney, SC

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in South Carolina for 2023?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in South Carolina. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in South Carolina, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for South Carolina. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered South Carolina cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 59 cities in South Carolina.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 59 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in South Carolina — Orangeburg. Any ties went to the smaller city.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Carolina FAQs

Yes, South Carolina is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #3 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in south carolina ranks seventh highest in the United States — 36.84% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Palmetto State ranks fifth highest in the United States — 38.96% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

No, Charleston is not a dangerous city. Charleston ranks as the #148 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Charleston might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Charleston ranks 156th highest in America — 15.16% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 173rd highest in the United States — 13.19% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In South Carolina

Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In South Carolina

So what is the most dangerous city in South Carolina? After analyzing 59 cities in South Carolina, Orangeburg takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in South Carolina based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Orangeburg ranks as the most dangerous city in South Carolina for 2023.

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Orangeburg and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

Yes, there are about 260 police officers per 100,000 residents, but they just can’t be everywhere. So, cities like Myrtle Beach and Greenwood are starting to feel the effects; but the place that’s getting hit the worst, is South Carolina’s most dangerous place, Orangeburg.

So, if you want to know the top ten most dangerous South Carolina places–where you shouldn’t let your kids out after dark–take a look at the list below. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in South Carolina.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in South Carolina:

  1. Summerville (Pop. 54,438)
  2. Clemson (Pop. 18,220)
  3. Mauldin (Pop. 25,808)
  4. Hanahan (Pop. 29,582)
  5. Central (Pop. 5,407)
  6. Clover (Pop. 6,992)
  7. Tega Cay (Pop. 12,178)
  8. Mount Pleasant (Pop. 95,657)
  9. Bluffton (Pop. 30,519)
  10. Fort Mill (Pop. 26,923)

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

Crime By City In South Carolina

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Orangeburg 12,335 2,059 5,901
2 Spartanburg 37,375 1,562 6,282
3 Walterboro 5,303 1,263 6,524
4 Hartsville 7,454 1,448 5,647
5 Myrtle Beach 36,543 1,234 8,362
6 Darlington 5,856 1,417 5,379
7 Florence 38,521 1,365 5,381
8 Camden 7,335 1,322 5,003
9 Lake City 6,541 1,773 3,990
10 Gaffney 12,528 838 5,411
11 North Charleston 121,060 1,013 5,012
12 Clinton 8,288 1,146 4,572
13 Georgetown 8,753 1,370 4,067
14 Anderson 27,831 635 6,349
15 West Columbia 18,257 723 5,455
16 Greenwood 23,369 1,129 4,296
17 Marion 6,136 733 5,378
18 Union 7,458 737 5,349
19 Cayce 14,088 958 4,422
20 Laurens 8,835 769 4,527
21 Chester 5,354 1,214 3,660
22 North Myrtle Beach 17,648 572 5,779
23 York 8,728 962 3,803
24 Cheraw 5,527 615 5,011
25 Columbia 132,255 729 4,185
26 Sumter 39,328 889 3,496
27 Aiken 31,270 668 3,789
28 Greenville 73,653 684 3,574
29 Bennettsville 7,301 945 2,588
30 Newberry 10,119 741 2,885
31 Forest Acres 10,261 389 4,297
32 Rock Hill 75,342 684 3,096
33 Easley 21,789 468 3,942
34 Batesburg-Leesville 5,405 536 3,533
35 Conway 27,781 590 2,760
36 Beaufort 13,293 361 3,550
37 Moncks Corner 13,108 526 2,616
38 Simpsonville 26,077 368 2,937
39 Seneca 8,611 592 2,171
40 Irmo 12,902 286 2,984
41 Charleston 141,768 435 2,238
42 Hardeeville 9,332 535 1,971
43 Fountain Inn 11,306 353 2,228
44 Greer 36,423 244 2,742
45 Lexington 23,161 276 2,417
46 Travelers Rest 8,297 36 3,061
47 North Augusta 24,435 196 2,308
48 Port Royal 14,970 307 1,289
49 Goose Creek 45,901 278 1,705
50 Summerville 54,438 244 1,961

References

  • FBI UCR 2022

  • Census – American Cumminity Survey

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in South Carolina and is updated for 2023.
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.