The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina For 2023

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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