Property Crime per Capita in Buffalo County
The property crime map below shows crimes per 1,000 Buffalo County residents.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
F
F |
|
Property Crime Grade |
F |
Other Crime Grade |
D- |
$495,287
Cost of Crime™ for Buffalo County, SD
In 2025, property crime will cost $978 per household.
Crime Grade's property crime map highlights the safest areas in Buffalo County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
The F grade indicates that the rate of property crime is much higher than that of the average US county. Buffalo County ranks in the 4th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 4% of counties but less safe than 96%. This analysis applies only to Buffalo County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The property crime rate in Buffalo County is 38.12 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Buffalo County residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in Buffalo County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 20 in the south areas to 1 in 38 in the northwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the west parts of Buffalo County, SD see the most incidents - about 42 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Buffalo County, SD
The total projected cost of crime in Buffalo County for 2025 is $495,287. This translates to approximately $273 per resident and $978 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.6% of the median household income in Buffalo County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 65.7%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 28.3%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 6.0%
How Much Does Property Crime Cost in Buffalo County Compared to Other Counties?
| Buffalo County, SD: | $273 |
|---|---|
| Minnehaha County, SD: | $139 |
| Pennington County, SD: | $103 |
| South Dakota: | $120 |
| USA: | $136 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Buffalo County is $273 per year, which is $137 more than the national average and $153 more than South Dakota's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Buffalo County:
- In Minnehaha County, SD, crime costs $139 per person, which is $134 less than in Buffalo County.
- In Pennington County, SD, crime costs $103 per person, which is $170 less than in Buffalo County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Buffalo County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Buffalo County |
Cost per Buffalo County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle Theft |
$140,551 |
$77 |
Burglary |
$94,227 |
$52 |
Theft |
$256,467 |
$141 |
Arson |
$4,043 |
$2 |
Total Cost of Property Crime |
$495,287 |
$273 |
The Intangible Cost of Property Crime in Buffalo County, SD
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Buffalo County totals $0 ($0 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $495,287 ($273 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Property Crime Maps
When interpreting the Buffalo County property crime map, keep in mind that property crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the county has few retail establishments, which can artificially inflate property crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas have the same problem. Of Buffalo County’s 1,814 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
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 Buffalo County, SD at ISP Reports.Buffalo County Property Crime Breakdown
The table below shows which non-violent crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grade above. All property crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Buffalo County residents in a standard year.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
27.30 |
Vehicle Theft |
5.004 |
Burglary |
5.727 |
Arson |
0.0923 |
Total Property Crime |
38.12 (F) |
Individual Buffalo County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of property crime in Buffalo County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Buffalo County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
F | D- | F | |
C | B- | C+ | |
D+ | F | A | |
D+ | B- | D+ | |
C | D+ | B | |
A | A | A+ | |
C | C+ | C- | |
C- | C | C | |
B | C+ | B- | |
B+ | B+ | A+ |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Buffalo County is higher versus other counties of the same size for property crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
F | F | F | |
B+ | B | B | |
C | B- | B- | |
C+ | B+ | B+ | |
B | D | D | |
B | B | B | |
F | D | D | |
D | C- | C- | |
D- | F | F | |
C | B | B |
Considering only the property crime rate, Buffalo County is less safe than the South Dakota state average and less safe than the national average.
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