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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 2022.
How'd we determine the most dangerous places in South Carolina? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 53 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 2022
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:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Carolina For 2022
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 177 assaults in a population of 12,529.
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Population: 12,529
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,731 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,560 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Orangeburg: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
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 11 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2020, 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%.
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Population: 35,658
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,379 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,716 (Most dangerous)
More on Myrtle Beach: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Known for its tobacco farms and NASCAR races, Darlington ranks as South Carolina's third most dangerous city for 2022. Darlington saw a increase in property crime compared to last year, a big reason the city moved down 2 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 second highest in South Carolina, which includes the 29th highest rate of rape cases statewide. Overall, residents had a 1 in 62 chance of being attacked over 2020.
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Population: 5,895
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,594 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,344 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Darlington: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
The core of the Pee Dee region in northeastern South Carolina, Florence comes in as the fourth least safe place to live. Florence recorded the eighth 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 562 such crimes over 2020. It's also one of the few places listed here that's seen a rise in both categories of crime.
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Population: 38,597
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,456 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,192 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Florence: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
This. Is. Spartansburg! Located in "The Upstate" of South Carolina's northwest, this city of 37,469 isn't quite as hardcore as the Sparta of yore, but it's still the fifth most dangerous place to live in South Carolina for 2022.
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 second highest burglary rate in South Carolina. And with 536 violent crimes recorded in data year 2020, no one will blame you for keeping your guard up in Spartansburg.
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Population: 37,469
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,430 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,101 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Spartanburg: | Cost Of Living
Greenwood hosts two festivals each year -- Festival of Discovery and the Festival of Flowers.
Those might sound like peaceful gatherings, but these festivals contribute to Greenwood's crazy high violent crime rate, which ranks as the sixth highest worst in South Carolina.
The rate of rape cases in Greenwood is the fifth highest statewide. And you can pretty much count on at least one violent crime happening each day In Greenwood.
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Population: 23,422
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,272 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,324 (14th most dangerous)
More on Greenwood: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
As the third oldest city in South Carolina, you'd think Georgetown would have its act together by now. Located on the coast between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, Georgetown does get a lot of visitors passing through.
We just recommend you keep a close eye on your valuables when you're enjoying the harborwalk, or you might join the 407 people who had their stuff stolen in 2020.
Georgetown isn't just plagued by high rates of crime. A whole host of other issues landed the city near the top of our list of the worst places to live in South Carolina.
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Population: 8,697
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,241 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,634 (13th most dangerous)
More on Georgetown: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Hartsville held onto its #8 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 ninth 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 seventh 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 2020, it still had the 13th highest rate of violent crime in South Carolina.
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Population: 7,519
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 6)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,170 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,984 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Hartsville: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Marion is located in the northeastern part of South Carolina, about an hour inland from the coastal resort town of Myrtle Beach. The town prides itself on its history, including a picturesque courthouse and a historical district. Even its name points to history -- the moniker comes from a Revolutionary War general.
So the area has a notable past. What about the present? That's where things get a little shaky. Despite its small-time vibe, Marion suffers from a major crime problem. With high rates of burglaries and robberies, the community ranks as the number 9 most dangerous spot in South Carolina.
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Population: 6,268
Rank Last Year: 17 (Up 8)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,260 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,009 (16th most dangerous)
More on Marion: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Columbia is the state capital of South Carolina. Cross the Congaree River and you'll find West Columbia, a community located about a 10 minute's drive from either the State House or the University of South Carolina.
So, in some ways, West Columbia represents a nice spot, with plenty of interesting amenities a short trip away. However, this comes at a cost. The crime rate in the area is exceptionally higher. Violence doesn't reach scary levels, but property crime represents a major problem. West Columbia suffers the number 2 highest level of property crime in South Carolina.
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Population: 18,143
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 777 (21st most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,014 (Second most dangerous)
More on West Columbia: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in South Carolina for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
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 53 cities in South Carolina.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 53 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. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Carolina FAQs
Is South Carolina a dangerous state?
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.
Is Charleston, SC a dangerous city?
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
Summary: Locking It All Up In South Carolina
So what is the most dangerous city in South Carolina? After analyzing 53 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 -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Orangeburg ranks as the most dangerous city in South Carolina for 2022.
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:
- Lexington (Pop. 22,592)
- Mauldin (Pop. 25,662)
- Port Royal (Pop. 13,553)
- Clemson (Pop. 17,951)
- Hanahan (Pop. 28,143)
- Central (Pop. 5,407)
- Mount Pleasant (Pop. 94,704)
- Tega Cay (Pop. 11,813)
- Fort Mill (Pop. 23,966)
- Bluffton (Pop. 27,549)
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In South Carolina
Crime By City In South Carolina
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Orangeburg | 12,529 |
2 | Myrtle Beach | 35,658 |
3 | Darlington | 5,895 |
4 | Florence | 38,597 |
5 | Spartanburg | 37,469 |
6 | Greenwood | 23,422 |
7 | Georgetown | 8,697 |
8 | Hartsville | 7,519 |
9 | Marion | 6,268 |
10 | West Columbia | 18,143 |
11 | Union | 7,565 |
12 | Walterboro | 5,387 |
13 | Camden | 7,264 |
14 | North Charleston | 117,503 |
15 | Cheraw | 5,529 |
16 | Sumter | 39,542 |
17 | Chester | 5,354 |
18 | York | 8,486 |
19 | North Myrtle Beach | 17,183 |
20 | Aiken | 31,007 |
21 | Newberry | 10,181 |
22 | Columbia | 131,777 |
23 | Bennettsville | 7,591 |
24 | Cayce | 14,117 |
25 | Greenville | 72,014 |
26 | Clinton | 8,363 |
27 | Forest Acres | 10,283 |
28 | Easley | 21,512 |
29 | Seneca | 8,581 |
30 | Batesburg-Leesville | 5,419 |
31 | Beaufort | 13,561 |
32 | Moncks Corner | 12,580 |
33 | Hardeeville | 7,970 |
34 | Irmo | 12,639 |
35 | Simpsonville | 24,960 |
36 | Charleston | 139,582 |
37 | Fountain Inn | 10,820 |
38 | Conway | 27,120 |
39 | Summerville | 53,711 |
40 | Greer | 34,320 |
41 | Travelers Rest | 5,435 |
42 | Clover | 6,693 |
43 | North Augusta | 24,139 |
44 | Lexington | 22,592 |
45 | Mauldin | 25,662 |
46 | Port Royal | 13,553 |
47 | Clemson | 17,951 |
48 | Hanahan | 28,143 |
49 | Central | 5,407 |
50 | Mount Pleasant | 94,704 |