South Dakota Murder Rates and Murder Maps

Crime Grade's murder map shows the safest places in South Dakota in green. The most dangerous areas in South Dakota 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 Dakota Safe?

The C+ grade means the rate of murder is about the same as the average US state. South Dakota is in the 51st percentile for safety, meaning 49% of states are safer and 51% of states are more dangerous. This analysis applies to South Dakota's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby states.

The rate of murder in South Dakota is 0.0604 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in South Dakota generally consider the southeast part of the state to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of murder in South Dakota may be as high as 1 in 7,154 in the southwest neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 21,695 in the southeast 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 southeast parts of South Dakota: about 16 per year. The south part of South Dakota has fewer cases of murder with only 3 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Murder Maps

When looking at the murder map for South Dakota, 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 southeast 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 Dakota residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which South Dakota 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 Dakota has 263, have the same problem. Of South Dakota’s 917,140 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 Dakota at ISP Reports.

South Dakota 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 Dakota residents in a standard year.

Individual South Dakota Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

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

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Murder Crime Grade
Nebraska	C+	B+	C+	A-
North Dakota	C-	B-	C-	B
Minnesota	C	B	C	B+
Iowa	B+	B	B+	A+
Kansas	D+	C-	C	B
Wyoming	B+	A	A	B+
Wisconsin	B	B-	A-	C+
Colorado	F	D-	F	C
Missouri	D	D	D+	D-
Illinois	B	B+	B+	C

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

South Dakota is lower 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
California	C	D	D	B-
Colorado	F	D-	D-	C
Connecticut	B+	A+	A+	B+
Delaware	D	C-	C-	B-
District of Columbia	F	F	F	F
Florida	A+	A-	A-	A-
Georgia	B-	C+	C+	D+
Arkansas	D-	D-	D-	D-
Puerto Rico	F	F	F	F
New Jersey	A+	A	A	A

Considering only the murder rate, South Dakota 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 Dakota average SchoolGrade of C, with 37% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See South Dakota 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.