The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In South Carolina For 2025

Dillon, a city in the heart of Dillon County, South Carolina, is known for its railway system. However, the city’s skyrocketing crime rates have brought it into the limelight in 2025. Dillon ranks as the most dangerous place in South Carolina.

The city has witnessed an alarming increase in both violent and property crimes. With a total of 148 violent crimes reported, including 0 murders and 141 aggravated assaults, Dillon holds the highest rank for violent crimes per capita. This surge in criminal activity has led to an overall crime rate of 9,038/100k.

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 7 highest pace of violent crime in the state. This includes 134 assaults in a population of 13,320.

Known for its tobacco farms and NASCAR races, Darlington ranks as South Carolina’s third most dangerous city for 2025. Darlington saw a increase in property crime compared to last year, a big reason the city moved up 4 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 eighth highest in South Carolina, which includes the 5highest rate of rape cases statewide. Overall, residents had a 1 in 88 chance of being attacked over 2024.

Good news, bad news situation with Lake City, South Carolina’s fourth most dangerous place to call home in 2025. 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 55 shot of being the victim of a violent attack in 2024. 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.

Hartsville held onto its #5 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 11th 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 17th 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 2024, it still had the third highest rate of violent crime in South Carolina.

This. Is. Spartansburg! Located in “The Upstate” of South Carolina’s northwest, this city of 39,186 isn’t quite as hardcore as the Sparta of yore, but it’s still the seventh most dangerous place to live in South Carolina for 2025.

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 fourth highest burglary rate in South Carolina. And with 580 violent crimes recorded in data year 2024, no one will blame you for keeping your guard up in Spartansburg.

Most cities here have been seeing their crime rates go down in recent years, but the overall crime rate in Union grew from last year and moved the city down 2 spots on this list as a result.

Union residents had a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2024, so it’s a good idea to lock your home, your car, and even your lunchbox. On the bright side, Union is the least violent place on this list.

Still, with sharp rises in both categories of crime, the Union PD has their work cut out for them.

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 seventh highest in South Carolina.

Folks in Myrtle Beach had a 1 in 17 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2024, 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 sixth highest overall crime rate in South Carolina, outstripping the national average by a whopping 365%.

Walterboro, located in Colleton County, South Carolina, ranks as the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2025. 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.

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