The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Beaufort County, SC: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Beaufort County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Beaufort County.

 

Beaufort County, SC Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

C

Overall Crime Grade™

B-
C+
Other Crime Grade
D

$85.9 million

Cost of Crime™ for Beaufort County, SC

In 2025, crime will cost $1,134 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Beaufort 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.

Is Beaufort County, SC Safe?

The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. Beaufort County ranks in the 40th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 40% of counties but less safe than 60%. This analysis applies only to Beaufort County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Beaufort County is 33.82 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Beaufort County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Beaufort County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 17 in the southeast areas to 1 in 38 in the southwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southwest parts of Beaufort County, SC see the most incidents - about 1,540 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 123 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Beaufort County, SC

The total projected cost of crime in Beaufort County for 2025 is $85,856,585. This translates to approximately $450 per resident and $1,134 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.9% of the median household income in Beaufort County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 59.0%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 29.1%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.8%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Beaufort County Compared to Other Counties?

Beaufort County, SC: $450
Richland County, SC: $986
Berkeley County, SC: $435
South Carolina: $666
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Beaufort County is $450 per year, which is $14 less than the national average and $216 less than South Carolina's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Beaufort County:
  • In Richland County, SC, crime costs $986 per person, which is $536 more than in Beaufort County.
  • In Berkeley County, SC, crime costs $435 per person, which is $15 less than in Beaufort County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Beaufort County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Beaufort County
Cost per Beaufort County Resident
Murder
$19.7 million
$103
Rape/Sexual Assault
$7.90 million
$41
Robbery
$1.98 million
$10
Assault
$12.5 million
$66
Kidnapping
$1.69 million
$9
Vehicle Theft
$6.28 million
$33
Burglary
$3.58 million
$19
Theft
$11.6 million
$61
Arson
$653,562
$3
Vandalism
$5.23 million
$27
Animal Cruelty
$150,763
$1
Drug Crimes
$13.6 million
$71
Identity Theft
$912,910
$5
Total Cost of Crime
$85,856,585
$450

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Beaufort County, SC

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 Beaufort County totals $172,418,319 ($904 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $258,274,904 ($1,354 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 Crime Maps

When interpreting the Beaufort County crime map, keep in mind that 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 south part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate 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, of which Beaufort County has 90, have the same problem. Of Beaufort County’s 190,808 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 Beaufort County, SC at ISP Reports.

Beaufort County Crime Breakdown

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

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
2.286
Robbery
0.3298
Rape
0.6832
Murder
0.0549
Total Violent Crime
3.354 (B-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
11.78
Vehicle Theft
2.126
Burglary
2.070
Arson
0.1418
Total Property Crime
16.12 (C+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1464
Drug Crimes
9.644
Vandalism
3.840
Identity Theft
0.6181
Animal Cruelty
0.1068
Total "Other" Rate
14.35 (D)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Beaufort County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Beaufort County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
F
D-
F
C-
C
D+
A+
A
A+
F
F
F
A+
A+
A+
A
B-
A+
B+
B
C+
B
B
C
D-
D
D-
B
B
B-

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Beaufort County is higher versus other counties of the same size for 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
A+
A+
A+
D
D-
D-
C
A
A
C+
C+
C+
A+
A+
A+
A-
C+
C+
B
C+
C+
A+
A+
A+
D+
B+
B+
A-
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Beaufort County is safer than the South Carolina state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Beaufort County, SC average SchoolGrade of C+, with 40% actual proficiency versus 40% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Beaufort County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

Crime By Zip Code Download

Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.

Download CSV

 

Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 1 hour 21 minutes in Beaufort County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Beaufort County, SC

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.