The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Dewey County, SD: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Dewey County

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

 

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

F

Overall Crime Grade™

F
F
Other Crime Grade
F

$5.14 million

Cost of Crime™ for Dewey County, SD

In 2025, crime will cost $3,373 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Dewey 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 Dewey County, SD Safe?

The F grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US county. Dewey County ranks in the 3rd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 3% of counties but less safe than 97%. This analysis applies only to Dewey County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Dewey County is 69.08 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Dewey County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Dewey County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 11 in the southwest areas to 1 in 28 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Dewey County, SD see the most incidents - about 158 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 4 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Dewey County, SD

The total projected cost of crime in Dewey County for 2025 is $5,141,807. This translates to approximately $1,082 per resident and $3,373 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 5.0% of the median household income in Dewey County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.1%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.6%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.3%

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

Dewey County, SD: $1082
Minnehaha County, SD: $444
Pennington County, SD: $411
South Dakota: $484
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Dewey County is $1,082 per year, which is $618 more than the national average and $599 more than South Dakota's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Dewey County:
  • In Minnehaha County, SD, crime costs $444 per person, which is $639 less than in Dewey County.
  • In Pennington County, SD, crime costs $411 per person, which is $671 less than in Dewey County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Dewey County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Dewey County
Cost per Dewey County Resident
Murder
$1.70 million
$358
Rape/Sexual Assault
$309,318
$65
Robbery
$101,090
$21
Assault
$927,640
$195
Kidnapping
$62,465
$13
Vehicle Theft
$349,727
$74
Burglary
$290,798
$61
Theft
$703,835
$148
Arson
$9,979
$2
Vandalism
$419,341
$88
Animal Cruelty
$2,734
$1
Drug Crimes
$232,351
$49
Identity Theft
$31,999
$7
Total Cost of Crime
$5,141,807
$1,082

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Dewey 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 Dewey County totals $13,015,534 ($2,740 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $18,157,342 ($3,823 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 Dewey 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 Dewey County has 1, have the same problem. Of Dewey County’s 4,750 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 Dewey County, SD at ISP Reports.

Dewey 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 Dewey County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
6.800
Robbery
0.6766
Rape
1.074
Murder
0.1905
Total Violent Crime
8.741 (F)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
28.61
Vehicle Theft
4.755
Burglary
6.750
Arson
0.0870
Total Property Crime
40.20 (F)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2169
Drug Crimes
6.613
Vandalism
12.36
Identity Theft
0.8704
Animal Cruelty
0.0778
Total "Other" Rate
20.14 (F)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Dewey 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
F
F
F
C
C+
C+
C
D+
D+
F
F
F
C-
C-
C-
D
D
D
D
B
B
D-
D+
D+
B-
C
C
C-
C-
C-

Considering only the crime rate, Dewey County is less safe than the South Dakota state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Dewey County, SD average SchoolGrade of D+, with 31% actual proficiency versus 27% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Dewey 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.

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Home Security

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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.