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

Crime per Capita in Harding County

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

 

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

D+

Overall Crime Grade™

D-
B+
Other Crime Grade
F

$937,118

Cost of Crime™ for Harding County, SD

In 2025, crime will cost $1,523 per household.

More cost data

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

The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US county. Harding County ranks in the 26th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 26% of counties but less safe than 74%. This analysis applies only to Harding County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Harding County is 40.18 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Harding County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Harding County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 25 in the north areas to 1 in 25 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Harding County, SD see the most incidents - about 17 per year. In contrast, the east part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 2 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Harding County, SD

The total projected cost of crime in Harding County for 2025 is $937,118. This translates to approximately $715 per resident and $1,523 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.5% of the median household income in Harding County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 54.8%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.4%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.8%

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

Harding County, SD: $715
Minnehaha County, SD: $444
Pennington County, SD: $411
South Dakota: $484
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Harding County is $715 per year, which is $251 more than the national average and $231 more than South Dakota's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Harding County:
  • In Minnehaha County, SD, crime costs $444 per person, which is $271 less than in Harding County.
  • In Pennington County, SD, crime costs $411 per person, which is $304 less than in Harding County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Harding County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Harding County
Cost per Harding County Resident
Murder
$313,440
$239
Rape/Sexual Assault
$85,515
$65
Robbery
$12,141
$9
Assault
$187,596
$143
Kidnapping
$23,738
$18
Vehicle Theft
$6,584
$5
Burglary
$46,709
$36
Theft
$48,712
$37
Arson
$2,475
$2
Vandalism
$64,094
$49
Animal Cruelty
$609
$0
Drug Crimes
$142,097
$108
Identity Theft
$3,410
$3
Total Cost of Crime
$937,118
$715

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Harding 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 Harding County totals $2,536,130 ($1,935 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $3,473,248 ($2,649 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 Harding 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 Harding County has 4, have the same problem. Of Harding County’s 1,311 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 Harding County, SD at ISP Reports.

Harding 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 Harding County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
4.983
Robbery
0.2944
Rape
1.076
Murder
0.1272
Total Violent Crime
6.480 (D-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
7.174
Vehicle Theft
0.3243
Burglary
3.928
Arson
0.0782
Total Property Crime
11.50 (B+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2986
Drug Crimes
14.65
Vandalism
6.843
Identity Theft
0.3361
Animal Cruelty
0.0628
Total "Other" Rate
22.19 (F)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Harding County is lower 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+
C
C
C
F
F
F
D-
B+
B+
D
D-
D-
D-
D-
D-
F
F
F
F
F
F
D+
B+
B+
C
C+
C+

Considering only the crime rate, Harding 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 Harding County, SD average SchoolGrade of B+, with 53% actual proficiency versus 46% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Harding 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

A crime occurs on average every 6 days 22 hours in Harding County. Want to protect your home?

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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.