South Carolina Murder Rates and Murder Maps

Crime Grade's murder map shows the safest places in South Carolina in green. The most dangerous areas in South Carolina are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is South Carolina Safe?

The D- grade means the rate of murder is much higher than the average US state. South Carolina is in the 10th percentile for safety, meaning 90% of states are safer and 10% of states are more dangerous. This analysis applies to South Carolina's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby states.

The rate of murder in South Carolina is 0.1098 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in South Carolina generally consider the north part of the state to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of murder in South Carolina may be as high as 1 in 5,430 in the northeast neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 13,536 in the north part of the state. See the section on interpreting the murder map, however, because comparing rates for murder or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.

By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the central parts of South Carolina: about 142 per year. The northeast part of South Carolina has fewer cases of murder with only 12 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Murder Maps

When looking at the murder map for South Carolina, remember that the rate of murder per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the northwest part of the state. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the murder rate map do not always indicate danger for South Carolina residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which South Carolina has 0, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which South Carolina has 951, have the same problem. Of South Carolina’s 5,298,759 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in South Carolina at ISP Reports.

South Carolina Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All murder rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 South Carolina residents in a standard year.

Individual South Carolina Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of murder in South Carolina is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for states close to South Carolina.

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Murder Crime Grade
North Carolina	C-	C-	C-	D
Georgia	B-	C+	B	D+
Virginia	B-	B+	B-	D+
Tennessee	D	D-	D	D-
West Virginia	A-	B+	A	C+
Alabama	C+	C+	B	D
Kentucky	B-	A-	B	D+
Florida	A+	A-	A	A-
District of Columbia	F	F	F	F
Maryland	C	C-	C+	D

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

South Carolina is higher versus other states of the same size for murder. The table below compares crime in states with comparable overall population in the state‘s boundaries.

Similar State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Murder Crime Grade
Arizona	B-	C	C	C
Alabama	C+	C+	C+	D
Louisiana	D+	D-	D-	F
Kentucky	B-	A-	A-	D+
Kansas	D+	C-	C-	B
Iowa	B+	B	B	A+
Indiana	A-	B-	B-	C
Illinois	B	B+	B+	C
Idaho	A-	B	B	A
Hawaii	B	A	A	A+

Considering only the murder rate, South Carolina is as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in South Carolina average SchoolGrade of B-, with 41% actual proficiency versus 35% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See South Carolina schools on SchoolGrade

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.