The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in South Dakota: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C
Property Crime Grade	B-
Other Crime Grade	D+

Which crimes are included?

$443.6 million

Cost of Crime™ for South Dakota

In 2025, crime will cost $1,211 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in South Dakota 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 South Dakota Safe?

The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US state. South Dakota ranks in the 39th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 39% of states but less safe than 61%. This analysis applies only to South Dakota's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby states.

The crime rate in South Dakota is 33.27 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. South Dakota Residents generally consider the northeast part of the state to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in South Dakota varies by city - ranging from 1 in 14 in the southwest cities to 1 in 37 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of South Dakota see the most incidents - about 10,127 per year. In contrast, the south part of the state has the fewest, with approximately 1,050 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in South Dakota

The total projected cost of crime in South Dakota for 2025 is $443,630,041. This translates to approximately $484 per resident and $1,211 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in South Dakota. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 57.4%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 30.3%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.2%

How Much Does Crime Cost in South Dakota Compared to Other States?

South Dakota:	$484
New Mexico:	$835
New Jersey:	$240
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in South Dakota is $484 per year, which is $19 more than the national average. Below we compare states similar to South Dakota:

In New Mexico, crime costs $835 per person, which is $351 more than in South Dakota.
In New Jersey, crime costs $240 per person, which is $244 less than in South Dakota

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of South Dakota for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to South Dakota	Cost per South Dakota Resident
Murder	$104.1 million	$114
Rape/Sexual Assault	$57.4 million	$63
Robbery	$6.99 million	$8
Assault	$71.5 million	$78
Kidnapping	$8.61 million	$9
Vehicle Theft	$33.9 million	$37
Burglary	$20.0 million	$22
Theft	$54.9 million	$60
Arson	$1.58 million	$2
Vandalism	$32.9 million	$36
Animal Cruelty	$332,713	$0
Drug Crimes	$49.5 million	$54
Identity Theft	$1.95 million	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$443,630,041	$484

The Intangible Cost of Crime in South Dakota

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 South Dakota totals $985,815,551 ($1,075 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,429,445,592 ($1,559 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 South Dakota 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 southeast part of the state 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 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. 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 South Dakota at ISP Reports.

South Dakota 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 South Dakota residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.713
Robbery	0.2423
Rape	1.032
Murder	0.0604
Total Violent Crime	4.047 (C)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	11.56
Vehicle Theft	2.384
Burglary	2.410
Arson	0.0714
Total Property Crime	16.42 (B-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1549
Drug Crimes	7.294
Vandalism	5.026
Identity Theft	0.2751
Animal Cruelty	0.0490
Total "Other" Rate	12.80 (D+)

Individual South Dakota Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of crime 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
Nebraska	C+	B+	C+
North Dakota	C-	B-	C-
Minnesota	C	B	C
Iowa	B+	B	B+
Kansas	D+	C-	C
Wyoming	B+	A	A
Wisconsin	B	B-	A-
Colorado	F	D-	F
Missouri	D	D	D+
Illinois	B	B+	B+

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

South Dakota is lower versus other states of the same size for crime. 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
California	C	D	D
Colorado	F	D-	D-
Connecticut	B+	A+	A+
Delaware	D	C-	C-
District of Columbia	F	F	F
Florida	A+	A-	A-
Georgia	B-	C+	C+
Arkansas	D-	D-	D-
Puerto Rico	F	F	F
New Jersey	A+	A	A

Considering only the crime 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

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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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.