The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota


The most dangerous places in South Dakota are Rapid City and Sioux Falls for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in South Dakota research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in South Dakota.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 2,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 29 South Dakota cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in South Dakota is Rapid City based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in South Dakota is 681 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in South Dakota is 3,585 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in South Dakota is Brandon.

  • South Dakota is the 14th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota Map


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


If you’ve ever read Pierre’s Capital Journal Crime and Courts page, then you know what many South Dakotans already know…

This Midwest state has some pretty dangerous places.

Do we think it’s because the flatlanders are bored? Jobs are scarce? Low wages? Yes, all three and then some, but we only rely on the data.

How’d we determine the most dangerous places in the Mount Rushmore State? We consulted the numbers. We used Saturday Night Science to compare the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime rates for the 29 cities with over 2,000 residents. Here are the results.

The Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota For 2024

  1. Rapid City
  2. Sioux Falls
  3. Chamberlain
  4. Sturgis
  5. Pierre
  6. Yankton
  7. Mitchell
  8. North Sioux City
  9. Box Elder
  10. Spearfish

Where is the most dangerous place in South Dakota for 2024? The most dangerous place in South Dakota is Rapid City.

In South Dakota’s most dangerous city rent is cheap, jobs are scarce, and crime is high.

If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in South Dakota are, look at the list below.

For more South Dakota reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Dakota For 2024

Rapid City, SD

Source: Wikipedia User tochichi | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 78,063
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 681 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,585 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 5
More on Rapid City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Rapid City represents one of the population centers in South Dakota. With 78,063 inhabitants, it comes in at number 2.0 in terms of most people in the state. Rapid City is well situated as a home base for some of the area’s biggest attractions, with places likeMount Rushmore and Deadwood located relatively nearby.

While it might serve as a tourist spot, travelers to Rapid City should stay cautious during their trip. The city ranks as the most dangerous place to live in the state. It reported 532 violent crimes during a year, including 97 rapes and 5 murders. Put into context, that gives Rapid City the highest violent crime rate for South Dakota.

The community also saw a significant number of non-violent crimes. With 2,799 property crimes, Rapid City had South Dakota’shighest pace in that category. This included 475 burglaries and 403 cars stolen.

Sioux Falls, SD

Source: Wikipedia User Jonathunder |

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 199,879
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 546 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,082 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 7
More on Sioux Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Sioux Falls stands as the number 1.0 most populous city in South Dakota. With 199,879 inhabitants, the city might seem miniscule compared to places like Los Angeles, Houston, or New York City. But the area still counts as a massive metropolis for South Dakota.

As with any large city, Sioux Falls has its share of crime. It suffered 1,092 violent crimes during a year, including 7 murders and 75 rapes. In terms of raw numbers, those are high for South Dakota. But on a per-capita basis, Sioux Falls only ranks as the second most violent spot in the state.

For property crime, Sioux Falls sees the third highest rate in South Dakota. This comes with 4,345 larcenies, 738 burglaries, and 1,079 stolen cars reported in 2022.

3. Chamberlain

Chamberlain, SD

Source: Wikipedia User Anne Swoboda from Griffith, IN, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,451
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 489 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,182 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Chamberlain: Crime

Chamberlain, South Dakota, is a small community with a big history. It hosts the South Dakota Hall of Fame. But the small town has also attracted a darker kind of fame: it ranks as the number 3 most dangerous place in the state.

Over the course of the reporting year 2022, Chamberlain suffered 12 violent crimes. This included 0 rapes. Compared to its population of just 2,451, this equals a per-capita violent-crime rate of 489/100k. That ranks it fourth highest in the state for that category.

Property crime is also a problem. The 78 such violations during the year gives it the second highest pace in South Dakota.

Sturgis, SD

Source: Wikipedia User Cumulus Clouds | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,121
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 435 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,626 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Sturgis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Sturgis, a city in Meade County, South Dakota, ranks as the fourth most dangerous place to live in the state. While Sturgis may be known for its annual motorcycle rally, the city faces significant challenges in terms of safety and crime. According to recent crime statistics, Sturgis has reported a total of 31 violent crimes, including 0 murder cases, 4 rapes, 1 robberies, and 26 aggravated assaults.

With a violent crime rate of 435/100k and a property crime rate of 2,626/100k, it is evident that the city faces significant challenges in maintaining a secure environment. It is important to note that with focused efforts from local law enforcement and community initiatives, Sturgis has the potential to improve its safety rankings and create a safer living environment for its residents.

Pierre, SD

Source: Wikipedia User Alanscottwalker | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 13,977
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 493 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,774 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Pierre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Ask your average fifth grader to name a city in South Dakota. If they come up with anything, they’ll probably say Pierre. That’s because the city serves as the state’s capital, making it one of South Dakota’s most high-profile communities.

With a population of 13,977, Pierre ranks as one of the smallest centers of government in the U.S. Even with its tiny size, Pierre has its share of crime. The city had 248 property crimes and 69 violent crimes during the year.

In terms of crime rate, Pierre had the ninth highest pace of property crime in South Dakota. Meanwhile, for violent crime, the city’s rate ranked third highest.

Yankton, SD

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 15,507
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 399 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,592 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Yankton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Yankton has great historical significance for South Dakota. Located along the Missouri River, in the southeastern part of the state, it represented an early jumping-off point for settlement of the region.

In modern times, Yankton sports a population of 15,507, putting it number 7.0 in the state. With this figure comes a noticeable crime problem, with the community suffering the fifth highest crime rate in South Dakota.

That unfortunate ranking comes about in large part as a result of the 62 violent crimes reported during 2022 — the reporting year. That includes 15 rapes. In addition, Yankton had 402 property crimes over a 12-month period. Putting those figures in terms of population, the city had the eighth highest pace of violent crimes and the fifth highest rate of property violations.

Mitchell, SD

Source: Wikipedia User TCN7JM | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,579
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 327 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,484 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Mitchell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Mitchell is one of the most well-known spots in South Dakota. The town acts as a secondary tourist destination for the state. It might not live up to the level of top attractions, like Mount Rushmore, but the Corn Palace brings in its share of curious guests.

The influx of visitors creates an unfortunate temptation for thieves, however. Mitchell ranks sixth highest in the state for property crime. It had 387 such violations in a year, with 318 larcenies and 45 car thefts.

For violent crime, Mitchell is better off. In a city of 15,579 people, it reported 51 violent crimes. That puts it 13th highest in South Dakota in that category.

8. North Sioux City

North Sioux City, SD

Source: Flickr User Subharnab | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,987
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 301 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,707 (Tenth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on North Sioux City: Crime

In Union County, North Sioux City is a part of the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. This city, steeped in Native American history and incorporated in 1951, finds itself as the eighth most dangerous place to live in South Dakota for 2024.

North Sioux City’s crime rate is worryingly high with 9 cases of violent crime and a whopping 51 instances of property crime. This equates to a violent crime rate of 301/100k and a property crime rate of 1,707/100k, making it a potentially unsafe place to live.

Box Elder, SD

Source: Wikipedia User Jeffrey Beall | CC BY 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 12,710
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 401 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,447 (17th most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Box Elder: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Located near the western border of South Dakota, Box Elder is home to the Ellsworth Air Force Base. Maybe the presence of all those airmen and airwomen provide a tempting target for criminals. Whatever the reason, the relatively low-population community counts as the number 9 most dangerous spots in the state.

Box Elder reported 51 violent crimes during a year, with 33 aggravated assaults. Those numbers might seem pretty small. But put them in terms of population and the community has seventh highest rate of violent crimes in the state.

The town also reported 184 property crimes during the year. This gave Box Elder South Dakota’s 17th highest pace for the category.

Spearfish, SD

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 12,517
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 247 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,364 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Spearfish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Spearfish was built on gold. No, not built out of gold. But the community grew out of a gold rush that took place in the region during the late 19th century. If you’ve ever seen the TV show Deadwood, Spearfish gets a shoutout there every so often.

Is Spearfish still a golden spot to live? It has its charms, especially if you want to explore the nearby Black Hills National Forest. But it also its share of crime, maybe an outgrowth of its Wild West history. Whatever the case, the town suffers high rates of violations like robbery and arson.

Crime By City In South Dakota

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Rapid City 78,063 4,267 681 3,585 5
2 Sioux Falls 199,879 3,629 546 3,082 7
3 Chamberlain 2,451 3,671 489 3,182 0
4 Sturgis 7,121 3,061 435 2,626 0
5 Pierre 13,977 2,268 493 1,774 1
6 Yankton 15,507 2,992 399 2,592 1
7 Mitchell 15,579 2,811 327 2,484 0
8 North Sioux City 2,987 2,008 301 1,707 0
9 Box Elder 12,710 1,848 401 1,447 1
10 Spearfish 12,517 2,612 247 2,364 1
11 Aberdeen 28,206 1,928 365 1,563 0
12 Winner 2,773 1,875 252 1,622 0
13 Lead 2,929 1,672 375 1,297 0
14 Flandreau 2,338 1,710 256 1,454 0
15 Canton 3,033 1,516 395 1,121 0
16 Huron 13,504 1,606 355 1,251 0
17 Sisseton 2,389 502 418 83 0
18 Vermillion 11,088 1,767 153 1,614 0
19 Watertown 22,832 1,778 218 1,559 0
20 Summerset 2,769 2,130 36 2,094 0
21 Tea 6,894 1,595 203 1,392 0
22 Beresford 2,112 1,704 94 1,609 0
23 Brookings 23,725 1,487 177 1,310 0
24 Hot Springs 3,605 443 277 166 0
25 Lennox 2,520 714 238 476 0
26 Belle Fourche 5,799 1,396 120 1,276 0
27 Madison 5,967 804 134 670 0
28 Mobridge 3,154 760 126 634 0
29 Brandon 10,914 668 54 613 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in South Dakota for 2024?

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

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for South Dakota.

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 Dakota cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 29 cities in South Dakota.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 29 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 Dakota — Rapid City. Any ties went to the smaller city.

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 Dakota and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Dakota FAQs

Yes, South Dakota is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #14 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in South Dakota ranks eighth most dangerous in the United States — 35.58% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Mount Rushmore State ranks 26th most dangerous in the United States — 0.12% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

Yes, Sioux Falls is a dangerous city. Sioux Falls ranks as the #118 most dangerous out of 328 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 Sioux Falls might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Sioux Falls ranks 137th highest in America — 1.3% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 105th highest in the United States — 12.98% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 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 Dakota

Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In South Dakota

So what is the most dangerous city in South Dakota? After analyzing 29 cities in South Dakota, Rapid City takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in South Dakota based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Rapid City ranks as the most dangerous city in South Dakota for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in South Dakota are .

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

Where is the most dangerous place in South Dakota for 2024? The most dangerous place in South Dakota is Rapid City.

In South Dakota’s most dangerous city rent is cheap, jobs are scarce, and crime is high.

If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in South Dakota are, look at the list below.

Learn more about the safest places in South Dakota.

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 Dakota:

  1. Summerset (Pop. 2,769)
  2. Tea (Pop. 6,894)
  3. Beresford (Pop. 2,112)
  4. Brookings (Pop. 23,725)
  5. Hot Springs (Pop. 3,605)
  6. Lennox (Pop. 2,520)
  7. Belle Fourche (Pop. 5,799)
  8. Madison (Pop. 5,967)
  9. Mobridge (Pop. 3,154)
  10. Brandon (Pop. 10,914)

For more South Dakota reading, check out:

References

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.

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